Supplementary Data (Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,032,292		$ 1,180,284		$ 1,631,466		$ 1,414,248		$ 1,010,898		$ 1,089,268		$ 1,569,047		$ 1,273,369		$ 5,258,290	[1]	$ 4,942,582	[1]	$ 4,662,264	[1]
Operating income																	1,153,702		1,000,176		829,967
Financial services	158,342		163,434		162,841		156,965		159,962		161,027		160,613		156,322		641,582	[1]	637,924	[1]	649,449	[1]
Income (loss) before taxes	112,091		241,331		422,353		338,530		106,356		207,111		382,149		265,896		1,114,305		961,512		792,664
Income (loss) from continuing operations																	733,993		623,925		548,078
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax																	0		0		51,036
Net income	75,409		162,716		271,739		224,129		70,639		134,001		247,250		172,035		733,993		623,925		599,114
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34		$ 0.73		$ 1.22		$ 1.00		$ 0.31		$ 0.59		$ 1.08		$ 0.75		$ 3.30		$ 2.75		$ 2.57
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34		$ 0.73		$ 1.21		$ 0.99		$ 0.31		$ 0.59		$ 1.07		$ 0.74		$ 3.28		$ 2.72		$ 2.55
Motorcycles Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products																	5,258,290		4,942,582		4,662,264
Operating income	60,712	[2]	175,471	[2]	357,665	[2]	276,761	[2]	53,114	[2]	144,752	[2]	309,559	[2]	208,064	[2]	870,609		715,489		561,176
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	61,324		76,068		74,156		71,545		62,989		72,350		81,954		67,394		283,093		284,687		268,791
Financial services																	$ 641,582		$ 637,924		$ 649,449

[1] Revenue is attributed to geographic regions based on location of customer.

[2] Operating income for the Motorcycles segment includes restructuring expense (benefit) as discussed in Note 4 for the following periods (in millions): 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Mar 31,2013 April 1,2012 June 30,2013 July 1,2012 Sep 29,2013 Sep 30,2012 Dec 31,2013 Dec 31,2012Restructuring expense (benefit) $2.9 $11.5 $(5.3) $6.2 $0.6 $0.9 $(0.4) $1.6