Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 29, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,130,558	$ 1,180,284	$ 4,536,531	$ 4,225,998
Financial Services	171,046	163,434	491,820	483,240
Total revenue	1,301,604	1,343,718	5,028,351	4,709,238
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	735,958	763,969	2,825,661	2,688,371
Financial Services interest expense	40,141	39,944	119,739	126,004
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	21,497	14,604	57,789	39,011
Provision for credit losses	21,497	14,604	57,789	39,011
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	279,935	273,016	842,512	825,899
Restructuring expense (benefit)	0	646	0	(1,713)
Total costs and expenses	1,077,531	1,092,179	3,845,701	3,677,572
Operating income	224,073	251,539	1,182,650	1,031,666
Investment income	1,509	1,161	4,940	4,546
Interest expense	77	11,369	4,147	33,998
Income before provision for income taxes	225,505	241,331	1,183,443	1,002,214
Provision for income taxes	75,439	78,615	413,307	343,630
Net Income	150,066	162,716	770,136	658,584
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,133,369	1,183,016	4,544,310	4,233,990
Financial Services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,133,369	1,183,016	4,544,310	4,233,990
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	735,958	763,969	2,825,661	2,688,371
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	248,669	240,593	744,866	730,664
Restructuring expense (benefit)		646		(1,713)
Total costs and expenses	984,627	1,005,208	3,570,527	3,417,322
Operating income	148,742	177,808	973,783	816,668
Investment income	1,509	1,161	124,940	189,546
Interest expense	77	11,369	4,147	33,998
Income before provision for income taxes	150,174	167,600	1,094,576	972,216
Provision for income taxes	47,801	51,721	336,677	265,278
Net Income	102,373	115,879	757,899	706,938
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	171,429	163,829	493,078	484,461
Total revenue	171,429	163,829	493,078	484,461
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	40,141	39,944	119,739	126,004
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses			57,789	39,011
Provision for credit losses	21,497	14,604	57,789	39,011
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	34,460	35,550	106,683	104,448
Restructuring expense (benefit)		0		0
Total costs and expenses	96,098	90,098	284,211	269,463
Operating income	75,331	73,731	208,867	214,998
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	75,331	73,731	208,867	214,998
Provision for income taxes	27,638	26,894	76,630	78,352
Net Income	47,693	46,837	132,237	136,646
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,811)	(2,732)	(7,779)	(7,992)
Financial Services	(383)	(395)	(1,258)	(1,221)
Total revenue	(3,194)	(3,127)	(9,037)	(9,213)
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	(3,194)	(3,127)	(9,037)	(9,213)
Restructuring expense (benefit)		0		0
Total costs and expenses	(3,194)	(3,127)	(9,037)	(9,213)
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)