Supplemental Consolidating Data (Cash Flows) (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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes	$ 0				$ 49,499				$ 0	$ 49,499
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income	74,500	150,100	354,200	265,900	75,400	162,700	271,700	224,100	844,611	733,993	623,925
Income (loss) from continuing operations									844,611	733,993	623,925
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									179,300	167,072	168,978
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									94,429	86,181	78,592
Amortization of financing origination fees									8,442	9,376	9,969
Provision for employee long-term benefits									33,709	66,877	71,347
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									(29,686)	(204,796)	(244,416)
Stock compensation expense									37,929	41,244	40,815
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									(75,210)	28,865	2,513
Provision for credit losses									80,946	60,008	22,239
Loss on debt extinguishment									3,942	4,947	4,323
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense									0	0	6,242
Deferred income taxes									7,621	(52,580)	(128,452)
Foreign currency adjustments									21,964	16,269	9,773
Other, net									(1,491)	10,123	(7,216)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									(9,809)	(36,653)	(13,690)
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									(2,515)	(346)	(4)
Inventories									(50,886)	(46,474)	21,459
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									19,128	(53,623)	(10,798)
Restructuring reserves									2,181	(25,042)	(16,087)
Derivative instruments									703	(2,189)	2,758
Prepaid and other									(3,389)	68,681	(97,716)
Total adjustments									302,066	243,100	177,533
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									1,146,677	977,093	801,458
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									(232,319)	(208,321)	(189,002)
Origination of finance receivables									(3,568,423)	(3,244,005)	(2,858,701)
Collections on finance receivables									3,013,245	2,831,994	2,768,089
Purchases of marketable securities									0	(4,998)	(4,993)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									41,010	40,108	23,296
Other									1,837	16,355	0
Net cash used by investing activities									(744,650)	(568,867)	(261,311)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes									991,835	0	993,737
Repayments of medium-term notes									(526,431)	(27,858)	(420,870)
Repayments of Unsecured Debt									(303,000)
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									0	0	0
Proceeds from securitization debt									847,126	647,516	763,895
Repayments of securitization debt									(834,856)	(840,387)	(1,405,599)
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									84,907	88,456	200,417
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									63,945	371,085	(744,724)
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									(77,800)	(78,765)	(24,301)
Net change in restricted cash									22,755	43,201	41,647
Dividends									(238,300)	(187,688)	(141,681)
Purchase of common stock for treasury									(615,602)	(479,231)	(311,632)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									11,540	19,895	13,065
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									37,785	50,567	45,973
Net cash used by financing activities									(536,096)	(393,209)	(990,073)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(25,863)	(16,543)	(8,886)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(159,932)	(1,526)	(458,812)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				1,066,612				1,068,138	1,066,612	1,068,138	1,526,950
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(159,932)	(1,526)	(458,812)
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	906,680				1,066,612				906,680	1,066,612	1,068,138
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes					44,584					44,584
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income									795,530	745,077	677,048
Income (loss) from continuing operations									795,530
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									171,187	160,181	162,659
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									0	0	0
Amortization of financing origination fees									59	473	473
Provision for employee long-term benefits									33,709	66,877	67,612
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									(29,686)	(204,796)	(244,416)
Stock compensation expense									35,064	38,367	37,544
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									0	0	0
Provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0	0	0
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense											6,242
Deferred income taxes									191	(54,568)	(117,772)
Foreign currency adjustments									21,964	16,269	9,773
Other, net									20,273	10,942	(2,290)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									(31,740)	(24,273)	9,323
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									0	0	0
Inventories									(50,886)	(46,474)	21,459
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									16,074	(60,907)	(6,368)
Restructuring reserves									2,181	(25,042)	(16,087)
Derivative instruments									703	(2,161)	2,906
Prepaid and other									(17,187)	70,900	(95,162)
Total adjustments									171,524	54,924	71,440
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									967,054	800,001	748,488
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									(224,262)	(199,354)	(180,416)
Origination of finance receivables									0	0	0
Collections on finance receivables									0	0	0
Purchases of marketable securities										(4,998)	(4,993)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									41,010	40,108	23,296
Other									1,837	16,355
Net cash used by investing activities									(181,415)	(147,889)	(162,113)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes									0		0
Repayments of medium-term notes									0	0	0
Repayments of Unsecured Debt									(303,000)
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									200,000	(50,000)	(400,000)
Proceeds from securitization debt									0	0	0
Repayments of securitization debt									0	0	0
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									0	0	0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net change in restricted cash									0	0	0
Dividends									(238,300)	(187,688)	(141,681)
Purchase of common stock for treasury									(615,602)	(479,231)	(311,632)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									11,540	19,895	13,065
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									37,785	50,567	45,973
Net cash used by financing activities									(907,577)	(646,457)	(794,275)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(23,079)	(14,459)	(7,714)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(145,017)	(8,804)	(215,614)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				718,912				727,716	718,912	727,716	943,330
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(145,017)	(8,804)	(215,614)
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	573,895				718,912				573,895	718,912	727,716
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes					2,656					2,656
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income									169,081	173,916	171,877
Income (loss) from continuing operations									169,081
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									8,113	6,891	6,319
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									94,429	86,181	78,592
Amortization of financing origination fees									8,383	8,903	9,496
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0	0	3,735
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									0	0	0
Stock compensation expense									2,865	2,877	3,271
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									0	0	0
Provision for credit losses									80,946	60,008	22,239
Loss on debt extinguishment									3,942	4,947	4,323
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense											0
Deferred income taxes									7,430	(1,988)	(10,680)
Foreign currency adjustments									0	0	0
Other, net									(21,764)	(819)	(4,926)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									0	0	0
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									(2,515)	(346)	(4)
Inventories									0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									21,629	(5,096)	(27,443)
Restructuring reserves									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	(28)	(148)
Prepaid and other									13,798	(2,219)	(2,554)
Total adjustments									202,396	159,311	103,580
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									371,477	333,227	275,457
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									(8,057)	(8,967)	(8,586)
Origination of finance receivables									(7,693,884)	(7,140,533)	(6,544,828)
Collections on finance receivables									7,066,852	6,757,387	6,456,729
Purchases of marketable securities										0	0
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									0	0	0
Other									0	0
Net cash used by investing activities									(635,089)	(392,113)	(96,685)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes									991,835		993,737
Repayments of medium-term notes									(526,431)	(27,858)	(420,870)
Repayments of Unsecured Debt									0
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									(200,000)	50,000	400,000
Proceeds from securitization debt									847,126	647,516	763,895
Repayments of securitization debt									(834,856)	(840,387)	(1,405,599)
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									84,907	88,456	200,417
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									63,945	371,085	(744,724)
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									(77,800)	(78,765)	(24,301)
Net change in restricted cash									22,755	43,201	41,647
Dividends									(120,000)	(185,000)	(225,000)
Purchase of common stock for treasury									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									0	0	0
Net cash used by financing activities									251,481	68,248	(420,798)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									(2,784)	(2,084)	(1,172)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(14,915)	7,278	(243,198)
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				347,700				340,422	347,700	340,422	583,620
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									(14,915)	7,278	(243,198)
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	332,785				347,700				332,785	347,700	340,422
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Deferred income taxes					2,259					2,259
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes									0
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Net income									(120,000)	(185,000)	(225,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(120,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation									0	0	0
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									0	0	0
Amortization of financing origination fees									0	0	0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0	0	0
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									0	0	0
Stock compensation expense									0	0	0
Net change in wholesale finance receivables related to sales									(75,210)	28,865	2,513
Provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0	0	0
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense											0
Deferred income taxes									0	0	0
Foreign currency adjustments									0	0	0
Other, net									0	0	0
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable									21,931	(12,380)	(23,013)
Finance receivables – accrued interest and other									0	0	0
Inventories									0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(18,575)	12,380	23,013
Restructuring reserves									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	0	0
Prepaid and other									0	0	0
Total adjustments									(71,854)	28,865	2,513
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									(191,854)	(156,135)	(222,487)
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Origination of finance receivables									4,125,461	3,896,528	3,686,127
Collections on finance receivables									(4,053,607)	(3,925,393)	(3,688,640)
Purchases of marketable securities										0	0
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									0	0	0
Other									0	0
Net cash used by investing activities									71,854	(28,865)	(2,513)
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes											0
Repayments of medium-term notes									0	0	0
Repayments of Unsecured Debt									0
Intercompany Borrowing Activity									0	0	0
Proceeds from securitization debt									0	0	0
Repayments of securitization debt									0	0	0
Borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									0	0	0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net change in restricted cash									0	0	0
Dividends									120,000	185,000	225,000
Purchase of common stock for treasury									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									0	0	0
Net cash used by financing activities									120,000	185,000	225,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period				0				0	0	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0