Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,834,285	$ 1,631,466	$ 3,405,973	$ 3,045,714
Financial Services	166,414	162,841	320,774	319,806
Total revenue	2,000,699	1,794,307	3,726,747	3,365,520
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,110,146	1,029,596	2,089,703	1,924,402
Financial Services interest expense	40,741	45,506	79,598	86,060
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	15,961	11,297	36,292	24,407
Provision for credit losses	15,961	11,297	36,292	24,407
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	286,156	281,384	562,577	552,883
Restructuring benefit	0	(5,297)	0	(2,359)
Total costs and expenses	1,453,004	1,362,486	2,768,170	2,585,393
Operating income	547,695	431,821	958,577	780,127
Investment income	1,772	1,770	3,431	3,385
Interest expense	393	11,238	4,070	22,629
Income before provision for income taxes	549,074	422,353	957,938	760,883
Provision for income taxes	194,921	150,614	337,868	265,015
Net Income	354,153	271,739	620,070	495,868
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,836,974	1,634,165	3,410,941	3,050,974
Financial Services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,836,974	1,634,165	3,410,941	3,050,974
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,110,146	1,029,596	2,089,703	1,924,402
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses			0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	251,432	249,996	496,197	490,071
Restructuring benefit		(5,297)		(2,359)
Total costs and expenses	1,361,578	1,274,295	2,585,900	2,412,114
Operating income	475,396	359,870	825,041	638,860
Investment income	1,772	1,770	123,431	188,385
Interest expense	393	11,238	4,070	22,629
Income before provision for income taxes	476,775	350,402	944,402	804,616
Provision for income taxes	168,303	124,271	288,876	213,557
Net Income	308,472	226,131	655,526	591,059
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	166,963	163,335	321,649	320,632
Total revenue	166,963	163,335	321,649	320,632
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	40,741	45,506	79,598	86,060
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses			36,292	24,407
Provision for credit losses	15,961	11,297	36,292	24,407
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	37,962	34,581	72,223	68,898
Restructuring benefit		0		0
Total costs and expenses	94,664	91,384	188,113	179,365
Operating income	72,299	71,951	133,536	141,267
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	72,299	71,951	133,536	141,267
Provision for income taxes	26,618	26,343	48,992	51,458
Net Income	45,681	45,608	84,544	89,809
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,689)	(2,699)	(4,968)	(5,260)
Financial Services	(549)	(494)	(875)	(826)
Total revenue	(3,238)	(3,193)	(5,843)	(6,086)
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses			0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,238)	(3,193)	(5,843)	(6,086)
Restructuring benefit		0		0
Total costs and expenses	(3,238)	(3,193)	(5,843)	(6,086)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	(120,000)	(185,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	0	0	(120,000)	(185,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Income	$ 0	$ 0	$ (120,000)	$ (185,000)