Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,571,688	$ 1,414,248
Financial Services	154,360	156,965
Total revenue	1,726,048	1,571,213
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	979,557	894,806
Financial Services interest expense	38,857	40,554
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	20,331	13,110
Provision for credit losses	20,331	13,110
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	276,421	271,499
Restructuring expense	0	2,938
Total costs and expenses	1,315,166	1,222,907
Operating income	410,882	348,306
Investment income	1,659	1,615
Interest expense	3,677	11,391
Income before provision for income taxes	408,864	338,530
Provision for income taxes	142,947	114,401
Net Income	265,917	224,129
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,573,967	1,416,809
Financial Services	0	0
Total revenue	1,573,967	1,416,809
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	979,557	894,806
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	244,765	240,076
Restructuring expense		2,938
Total costs and expenses	1,224,322	1,137,820
Operating income	349,645	278,989
Investment income	121,659	186,615
Interest expense	3,677	11,391
Income before provision for income taxes	467,627	454,213
Provision for income taxes	120,573	89,286
Net Income	347,054	364,927
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0
Financial Services	154,686	157,297
Total revenue	154,686	157,297
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	38,857	40,554
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	20,331	13,110
Provision for credit losses	20,331	13,110
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	34,261	34,316
Restructuring expense		0
Total costs and expenses	93,449	87,980
Operating income	61,237	69,317
Investment income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	61,237	69,317
Provision for income taxes	22,374	25,115
Net Income	38,863	44,202
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,279)	(2,561)
Financial Services	(326)	(332)
Total revenue	(2,605)	(2,893)
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(2,605)	(2,893)
Restructuring expense		0
Total costs and expenses	(2,605)	(2,893)
Operating income	0	0
Investment income	(120,000)	(185,000)
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(120,000)	(185,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net Income	$ (120,000)	$ (185,000)