Supplemental Consolidating Data (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income	$ 75,409	$ 162,716	$ 271,739	$ 224,129	$ 70,639	$ 134,001	$ 247,250	$ 172,035	$ 733,993	$ 623,925	$ 599,114
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	51,036
Income (loss) from continuing operations									733,993	623,925	548,078
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									167,072	168,978	180,408
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									86,181	78,592	78,695
Amortization of financing origination fees									9,376	9,969	10,790
Provision for employee long-term benefits									66,877	71,347	59,441
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									(204,796)	(244,416)	(219,695)
Stock compensation expense									41,244	40,815	38,192
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									28,865	2,513	(2,335)
Provision for credit losses									60,008	22,239	17,031
Loss on debt extinguishment									4,947	4,323	9,608
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense									0	6,242	236
Deferred income taxes									52,580	128,452	87,873
Foreign currency adjustments									16,269	9,773	10,678
Other, net									10,123	(7,216)	(15,807)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									(36,653)	(13,690)	43,050
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									(346)	(4)	5,027
Inventories									(46,474)	21,459	(94,957)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(53,623)	(10,798)	120,291
Restructuring reserves									(25,042)	(16,087)	8,072
Derivative instruments									(2,189)	2,758	(2,488)
Prepaid and other									68,681	(97,716)	3,103
Total adjustments									243,100	177,533	337,213
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									977,093	801,458	885,291
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									(208,321)	(189,002)	(189,035)
Origination of finance receivables									(3,244,005)	(2,858,701)	(2,622,024)
Collections on finance receivables									2,831,994	2,768,089	2,760,049
Purchases of marketable securities									(4,998)	(4,993)	(142,653)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									40,108	23,296	130,121
Other									16,355	0	0
Net used by investing activities of continuing operations									(568,867)	(261,311)	(63,542)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes									0	993,737	447,076
Repayments of medium-term notes									(27,858)	(420,870)	(59,211)
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									0	0
Proceeds from securitization debt									647,516	763,895	1,082,599
Repayments of securitization debt									(840,387)	(1,405,599)	(1,754,568)
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									88,456	200,417
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									371,085	(744,724)	237,827
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									(78,765)	(24,301)	(483)
Net change in restricted cash									43,201	41,647	59,232
Dividends									(187,688)	(141,681)	(111,011)
Purchase of common stock for treasury									(479,231)	(311,632)	(224,548)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									19,895	13,065	6,303
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									50,567	45,973	7,840
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations									(393,209)	(990,073)	(308,944)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(16,543)	(8,886)	(7,788)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations											505,017
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations											0
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations											0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations											0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations											0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations									(1,526)	(458,812)	505,017
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				1,068,138				1,526,950	1,068,138	1,526,950	1,021,933
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(1,526)	(458,812)	505,017
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	1,066,612				1,068,138				1,066,612	1,068,138	1,526,950
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income									745,077	677,048	558,807
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	51,036
Income (loss) from continuing operations									745,077	677,048	507,771
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									160,181	162,659	173,959
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									0	0	0
Amortization of financing origination fees									473	473	473
Provision for employee long-term benefits									66,877	67,612	55,942
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									(204,796)	(244,416)	(219,695)
Stock compensation expense									38,367	37,544	35,404
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									0	0	0
Provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0	0	0
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense										6,242	236
Deferred income taxes									54,568	117,772	71,555
Foreign currency adjustments									16,269	9,773	10,678
Other, net									10,942	(2,290)	(16,650)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									(24,273)	9,323	60,403
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									0	0	0
Inventories									(46,474)	21,459	(94,957)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(60,907)	(6,368)	81,670
Restructuring reserves									(25,042)	(16,087)	8,072
Derivative instruments									(2,161)	2,906	(2,519)
Prepaid and other									70,900	(95,162)	1,154
Total adjustments									54,924	71,440	165,725
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									800,001	748,488	673,496
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									(199,354)	(180,416)	(179,988)
Origination of finance receivables									0	0	0
Collections on finance receivables									0	0	0
Purchases of marketable securities									(4,998)	(4,993)	(142,653)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									40,108	23,296	130,121
Other									16,355
Net used by investing activities of continuing operations									(147,889)	(162,113)	(192,520)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes										0	0
Repayments of medium-term notes									0	0	0
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									(50,000)	(400,000)
Proceeds from securitization debt									0	0	0
Repayments of securitization debt									0	0	0
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									0	0
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									0	0	0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net change in restricted cash									0	0	0
Dividends									(187,688)	(141,681)	(111,011)
Purchase of common stock for treasury									(479,231)	(311,632)	(224,548)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									19,895	13,065	6,303
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									50,567	45,973	7,840
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations									(646,457)	(794,275)	(321,416)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(14,459)	(7,714)	(8,021)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations											151,539
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations											0
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations											0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations											0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations											0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations									(8,804)	(215,614)	151,539
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				727,716				943,330	727,716	943,330	791,791
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(8,804)	(215,614)	151,539
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	718,912				727,716				718,912	727,716	943,330
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income									173,916	171,877	165,307
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									173,916	171,877	165,307
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									6,891	6,319	6,449
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									86,181	78,592	78,695
Amortization of financing origination fees									8,903	9,496	10,317
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0	3,735	3,499
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									0	0	0
Stock compensation expense									2,877	3,271	2,788
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									0	0	0
Provision for credit losses									60,008	22,239	17,031
Loss on debt extinguishment									4,947	4,323	9,608
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense										0	0
Deferred income taxes									(1,988)	10,680	16,318
Foreign currency adjustments									0	0	0
Other, net									(819)	(4,926)	843
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									0	0	0
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									(346)	(4)	5,027
Inventories									0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(5,096)	(27,443)	(25,989)
Restructuring reserves									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									(28)	(148)	31
Prepaid and other									(2,219)	(2,554)	49,524
Total adjustments									159,311	103,580	174,141
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									333,227	275,457	339,448
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									(8,967)	(8,586)	(9,047)
Origination of finance receivables									(7,140,533)	(6,544,828)	(6,056,242)
Collections on finance receivables									6,757,387	6,456,729	6,191,932
Purchases of marketable securities									0	0	0
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									0	0	0
Other									0
Net used by investing activities of continuing operations									(392,113)	(96,685)	126,643
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes										993,737	447,076
Repayments of medium-term notes									(27,858)	(420,870)	(59,211)
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									50,000	400,000
Proceeds from securitization debt									647,516	763,895	1,082,599
Repayments of securitization debt									(840,387)	(1,405,599)	(1,754,568)
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									88,456	200,417
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									371,085	(744,724)	237,827
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									(78,765)	(24,301)	(483)
Net change in restricted cash									43,201	41,647	59,232
Dividends									(185,000)	(225,000)	(125,000)
Purchase of common stock for treasury									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									0	0	0
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations									68,248	(420,798)	(112,528)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(2,084)	(1,172)	(85)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations											353,478
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations											0
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations											0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations											0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations											0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations									7,278	(243,198)	353,478
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				340,422				583,620	340,422	583,620	230,142
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									7,278	(243,198)	353,478
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	347,700				340,422				347,700	340,422	583,620
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income									(185,000)	(225,000)	(125,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(185,000)	(225,000)	(125,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									0	0	0
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									0	0	0
Amortization of financing origination fees									0	0	0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0	0	0
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									0	0	0
Stock compensation expense									0	0	0
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									28,865	2,513	(2,335)
Provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0	0	0
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense										0	0
Deferred income taxes									0	0	0
Foreign currency adjustments									0	0	0
Other, net									0	0	0
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									(12,380)	(23,013)	(17,353)
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									0	0	0
Inventories									0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									12,380	23,013	64,610
Restructuring reserves									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	0	0
Prepaid and other									0	0	(47,575)
Total adjustments									28,865	2,513	(2,653)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									(156,135)	(222,487)	(127,653)
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Origination of finance receivables									3,896,528	3,686,127	3,434,218
Collections on finance receivables									(3,925,393)	(3,688,640)	(3,431,883)
Purchases of marketable securities									0	0	0
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									0	0	0
Other									0
Net used by investing activities of continuing operations									(28,865)	(2,513)	2,335
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes										0	0
Repayments of medium-term notes									0	0	0
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									0	0
Proceeds from securitization debt									0	0	0
Repayments of securitization debt									0	0	0
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									0	0
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									0	0	0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net change in restricted cash									0	0	0
Dividends									185,000	225,000	125,000
Purchase of common stock for treasury									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									0	0	0
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations									185,000	225,000	125,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									0	0	318
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations											0
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations											0
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations											0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations											0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations											0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				0				0	0	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0