Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 906,680	$ 1,066,612	$ 1,068,138	$ 1,526,950
Marketable securities	57,325	99,009
Accounts receivable, net	247,621us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	261,065us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Finance receivables, net	1,916,635	1,773,686
Inventories	448,871us-gaap_InventoryNet	424,507us-gaap_InventoryNet
Restricted cash	98,627	144,807
Deferred income taxes	89,916	103,625
Other current assets	182,420us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent	115,492us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Total current assets	3,948,095us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	3,988,803us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,516,246	4,225,877
Property, plant and equipment, net	883,077us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	842,477us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Prepaid pension costs	0us-gaap_PrepaidPensionCosts	244,871us-gaap_PrepaidPensionCosts
Goodwill	27,752us-gaap_Goodwill	30,452us-gaap_Goodwill
Deferred income taxes	77,835	3,339
Other long-term assets	75,092us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	69,221us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Total assets	9,528,097us-gaap_Assets	9,405,040us-gaap_Assets	9,170,773us-gaap_Assets
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	196,868us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	239,794us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Accrued liabilities	449,317us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	427,335us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Short-term Debt	731,786us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings	666,317us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Current portion of long-term debt	1,011,315us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	1,176,140us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Total current liabilities	2,389,286us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	2,509,586us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term debt	3,761,528us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	3,416,713us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Pension liability	76,186	36,371
Postretirement healthcare liability	203,006	216,165
Deferred income taxes	0	49,499
Other long-term liabilities	188,805us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	167,220us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	2,909,286us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	3,009,486us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	2,557,624us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	2,420,256us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,528,097	9,405,040
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	573,895	718,912	727,716	943,330
Marketable securities	57,325	99,009
Accounts receivable, net	658,735	850,248
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	448,871	424,507
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes	50,015	70,557
Other current assets	142,278	82,717
Total current assets	1,931,119	2,245,950
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	848,661	808,005
Prepaid pension costs		244,871
Goodwill	27,752	30,452
Deferred income taxes	75,121	3,339
Other long-term assets	113,727	126,940
Total assets	2,996,380	3,459,557
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	171,098	203,786
Accrued liabilities	370,652	353,618
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	303,000
Total current liabilities	541,750	860,404
Long-term debt	0	0
Pension liability	76,186	36,371
Postretirement healthcare liability	203,006	216,165
Deferred income taxes		44,584
Other long-term liabilities	164,060	146,686
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	2,011,378	2,155,347
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,996,380	3,459,557
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	332,785	347,700	340,422	583,620
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,916,635	1,773,686
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	98,627	144,807
Deferred income taxes	39,901	33,068
Other current assets	43,125	34,573
Total current assets	2,431,073	2,333,834
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,516,246	4,225,877
Property, plant and equipment, net	34,416	34,472
Prepaid pension costs		0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	4,863	0
Other long-term assets	39,309	17,360
Total assets	7,025,907	6,611,543
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	436,884	625,191
Accrued liabilities	83,797	77,774
Short-term Debt	731,786	666,317
Current portion of long-term debt	1,011,315	873,140
Total current liabilities	2,263,782	2,242,422
Long-term debt	3,761,528	3,416,713
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Deferred income taxes		2,656
Other long-term liabilities	24,745	20,534
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	975,852	929,218
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,025,907	6,611,543
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid pension costs		0
Current liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		2,259
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(411,114)	(589,183)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other current assets	(2,983)	(1,798)
Total current assets	(414,097)	(590,981)
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(2,149)	0
Other long-term assets	(77,944)	(75,079)
Total assets	(494,190)	(666,060)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(411,114)	(589,183)
Accrued liabilities	(5,132)	(4,057)
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	(416,246)	(593,240)
Long-term debt	0	0
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	(77,944)	(75,079)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (494,190)	$ (666,060)

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date more than one year from the balance sheet date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent assets are expected to be realized or consumed after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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This represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with other postretirement defined benefit plans (excluding pension plans).

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Cumulative employer's contributions in excess of net pension cost recognized, before the adoption of the recognition provisions of FAS 158. Under FAS 158, prepaid pension costs are no longer recognized in the statement of financial position. Note that there is a separate concept for noncurrent assets relating to defined benefit pension and other defined benefit postretirement plans for use under the recognition provisions of FAS 158.

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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-Section 03

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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