Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 935,820	$ 1,066,612	$ 1,018,759	$ 1,068,138
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	92,940	99,009	135,246
Accounts receivable, net	324,979	261,065	259,673
Finance receivables, net	2,223,199	1,773,686	2,074,036
Inventories	449,044	424,507	416,050
Restricted cash	117,883	144,807	197,025
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	89,070	103,625	107,828
Other current assets	127,536	115,492	232,190
Total current assets	4,360,471	3,988,803	4,332,979
Finance receivables, net	4,214,496	4,225,877	3,959,903
Property, plant and equipment, net	823,061	842,477	790,245
Prepaid Pension Costs	250,575	244,871	0
Goodwill	30,427	30,452	28,861
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	3,023	3,339	156,319
Other long-term assets	47,738	69,221	223,133
Total assets	9,729,791	9,405,040	9,335,121
Accounts payable	454,366	239,794	360,018
Accrued liabilities	566,755	427,335	464,317
Short-term debt	974,153	666,317	687,705
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	848,840	1,176,140	715,143
Total current liabilities	2,844,114	2,509,586	2,227,183
Long-term debt	3,271,648	3,416,713	3,892,469
Pension liability	37,261	36,371	152,132
Postretirement healthcare benefits	212,887	216,165	274,597
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	35,973	49,499	0
Other long-term liabilities	168,073	167,220	131,692
Total shareholders' equity	3,159,835	3,009,486	2,657,048
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,729,791	9,405,040	9,335,121
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	548,292	718,912	672,977	727,716
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	92,940	99,009	135,246
Accounts receivable, net	1,240,820	850,248	966,688
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	449,044	424,507	416,050
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	51,459	70,557
Other current assets	95,535	82,717	174,125
Total current assets	2,478,090	2,245,950	2,365,086
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	789,194	808,005	758,333
Prepaid Pension Costs	250,575	244,871
Goodwill	30,427	30,452	28,861
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	3,023	3,339
Other long-term assets	110,763	126,940	282,675
Total assets	3,662,072	3,459,557	3,434,955
Accounts payable	377,780	203,786	291,162
Accrued liabilities	466,685	353,618	369,127
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	303,000	303,000
Total current liabilities	844,465	860,404	963,289
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Pension liability	37,261	36,371	152,132
Postretirement healthcare benefits	212,887	216,165	274,597
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	31,864	44,584
Other long-term liabilities	146,641	146,686	114,536
Total shareholders' equity	2,388,954	2,155,347	1,930,401
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,662,072	3,459,557	3,434,955
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	387,528	347,700	345,782	340,422
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,223,199	1,773,686	2,074,036
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	117,883	144,807	197,025
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	37,611	33,068
Other current assets	32,001	34,573	58,065
Total current assets	2,798,222	2,333,834	2,674,908
Finance receivables, net	4,214,496	4,225,877	3,959,903
Property, plant and equipment, net	33,867	34,472	31,912
Prepaid Pension Costs	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Other long-term assets	12,743	17,360	16,703
Total assets	7,059,328	6,611,543	6,683,426
Accounts payable	992,427	625,191	775,871
Accrued liabilities	101,807	77,774	98,467
Short-term debt	974,153	666,317	687,705
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	848,840	873,140	412,143
Total current liabilities	2,917,227	2,242,422	1,974,186
Long-term debt	3,271,648	3,416,713	3,892,469
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	2,372	2,656
Other long-term liabilities	21,432	20,534	17,156
Total shareholders' equity	846,649	929,218	799,615
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,059,328	6,611,543	6,683,426
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(915,841)	(589,183)	(707,015)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	0	0
Other current assets	0	(1,798)	0
Total current assets	(915,841)	(590,981)	(707,015)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	0
Prepaid Pension Costs	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Other long-term assets	(75,768)	(75,079)	(76,245)
Total assets	(991,609)	(666,060)	(783,260)
Accounts payable	(915,841)	(589,183)	(707,015)
Accrued liabilities	(1,737)	(4,057)	(3,277)
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	(917,578)	(593,240)	(710,292)
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	1,737	2,259
Other long-term liabilities	0	0	0
Total shareholders' equity	(75,768)	(75,079)	(72,968)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (991,609)	$ (666,060)	$ (783,260)