Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,066,612	$ 1,068,138	$ 1,526,950	$ 1,021,933
Marketable securities	99,009	135,634
Accounts receivable, net	261,065	230,079
Finance receivables, net	1,773,686	1,743,045
Inventories	424,507	393,524
Restricted cash	144,807	188,008
Deferred income taxes	103,625	110,853
Other current assets	115,492	181,655
Total current assets	3,988,803	4,050,936
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,225,877	4,038,807
Property, plant and equipment, net	842,477	815,464
Prepaid pension costs	244,871	0
Goodwill	30,452	29,530
Deferred income taxes	3,339	171,845
Other long-term assets	69,221	64,191
Total assets	9,405,040	9,170,773	9,674,164
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	239,794	257,386
Accrued liabilities	427,335	513,591
Short-term Debt	666,317	294,943
Current portion of long-term debt	1,176,140	437,162
Total current liabilities	2,509,586	1,503,082
Long-term debt	3,416,713	4,370,544
Pension liability	36,371	330,294
Postretirement healthcare liability	216,165	278,062
Deferred income taxes	49,499	0
Other long-term liabilities	167,220	131,167
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	3,009,486	2,557,624	2,420,256	2,206,866
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,405,040	9,170,773
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	718,912	727,716	943,330	791,791
Marketable securities	99,009	135,634
Accounts receivable, net	850,248	781,642
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	424,507	393,524
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes	70,557	84,486
Other current assets	82,717	146,419
Total current assets	2,245,950	2,269,421
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	808,005	783,068
Prepaid pension costs	244,871
Goodwill	30,452	29,530
Deferred income taxes	3,339	175,839
Other long-term assets	126,940	116,925
Total assets	3,459,557	3,374,783
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	203,786	221,064
Accrued liabilities	353,618	439,144
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	303,000	0
Total current liabilities	860,404	660,208
Long-term debt	0	303,000
Pension liability	36,371	330,294
Postretirement healthcare liability	216,165	278,062
Deferred income taxes	44,584
Other long-term liabilities	146,686	114,476
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	2,155,347	1,688,743
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,459,557	3,374,783
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	347,700	340,422	583,620	230,142
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,773,686	1,743,045
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	144,807	188,008
Deferred income taxes	33,068	26,367
Other current assets	34,573	31,242
Total current assets	2,333,834	2,329,084
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,225,877	4,038,807
Property, plant and equipment, net	34,472	32,396
Prepaid pension costs	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other long-term assets	17,360	19,468
Total assets	6,611,543	6,419,755
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	625,191	587,885
Accrued liabilities	77,774	74,447
Short-term Debt	666,317	294,943
Current portion of long-term debt	873,140	437,162
Total current liabilities	2,242,422	1,394,437
Long-term debt	3,416,713	4,067,544
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Deferred income taxes	2,656
Other long-term liabilities	20,534	16,691
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	929,218	941,083
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,611,543	6,419,755
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(589,183)	(551,563)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other current assets	(1,798)	3,994
Total current assets	(590,981)	(547,569)
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Prepaid pension costs	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	(3,994)
Other long-term assets	(75,079)	(72,202)
Total assets	(666,060)	(623,765)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(589,183)	(551,563)
Accrued liabilities	(4,057)	0
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	(593,240)	(551,563)
Long-term debt	0	0
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Deferred income taxes	2,259
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	(75,079)	(72,202)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (666,060)	$ (623,765)