Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,031,200	$ 1,130,600	$ 1,834,300	$ 1,571,700	$ 1,032,300	$ 1,180,300	$ 1,631,500	$ 1,414,200	$ 5,567,681	[1]	$ 5,258,290	[1]	$ 4,942,582	[1]
Financial Services	169,000	171,000	166,400	154,400	158,300	163,400	162,800	157,000	660,827	[1]	641,582	[1]	637,924	[1]
Total revenue									6,228,508		5,899,872		5,580,506
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									3,542,601		3,395,918		3,222,394
Financial Services interest expense									164,476		165,491		195,990
Provision for employee long-term benefits									80,946		60,008		22,239
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,159,502		1,126,884		1,111,232
Restructuring expense									0		(2,131)		28,475
Total costs and expenses									4,947,525		4,746,170		4,580,330
Operating income									1,280,983		1,153,702		1,000,176
Investment income									6,499		5,859		7,369
Interest expense									4,162		45,256		46,033
Loss on debt extinguishment									3,942		4,947		4,323
Income before provision for income taxes	99,900	225,500	549,100	408,900	112,100	241,300	422,400	338,500	1,283,320		1,114,305		961,512
Provision for income taxes									438,709		380,312		337,587
Income from continuing operations									844,611		733,993		623,925
Net income	74,500	150,100	354,200	265,900	75,400	162,700	271,700	224,100	844,611		733,993		623,925
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									(10,016)		(10,190)		(10,166)
Financial Services									(1,518)		(1,485)		(1,558)
Total revenue									(11,534)		(11,675)		(11,724)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									0		0		0
Financial Services interest expense									0		0		0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0		0		0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									(11,534)		(11,675)		(11,724)
Restructuring expense											0		0
Total costs and expenses									(11,534)		(11,675)		(11,724)
Operating income									0		0		0
Investment income									(120,000)		(185,000)		(225,000)
Interest expense									0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0		0		0
Income before provision for income taxes									(120,000)		(185,000)		(225,000)
Provision for income taxes									0		0		0
Income from continuing operations									(120,000)
Net income									(120,000)		(185,000)		(225,000)
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									5,577,697		5,268,480		4,952,748
Financial Services									0		0		0
Total revenue									5,577,697		5,268,480		4,952,748
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									3,542,601		3,395,918		3,222,394
Financial Services interest expense									0		0		0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0		0		0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,023,450		995,378		977,782
Restructuring expense											(2,131)		28,475
Total costs and expenses									4,566,051		4,389,165		4,228,651
Operating income									1,011,646		879,315		724,097
Investment income									126,499		190,859		232,369
Interest expense									4,162		45,256		46,033
Loss on debt extinguishment									0		0		0
Income before provision for income taxes									1,133,983		1,024,918		910,433
Provision for income taxes									338,453		279,841		233,385
Income from continuing operations									795,530
Net income									795,530		745,077		677,048
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									0		0		0
Financial Services									662,345		643,067		639,482
Total revenue									662,345		643,067		639,482
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									0		0		0
Financial Services interest expense									164,476		165,491		195,990
Provision for employee long-term benefits									80,946		60,008		22,239
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									147,586		143,181		145,174
Restructuring expense											0		0
Total costs and expenses									393,008		368,680		363,403
Operating income									269,337		274,387		276,079
Investment income									0		0		0
Interest expense									0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment									3,942		4,947		4,323
Income before provision for income taxes									269,337		274,387		276,079
Provision for income taxes									100,256		100,471		104,202
Income from continuing operations									169,081
Net income									$ 169,081		$ 173,916		$ 171,877

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