Supplementary Data (Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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]
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]
Operating income																	1,280,983		1,153,702		1,000,176
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]
Income (loss) before 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
Income (loss) 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
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35		$ 0.70		$ 1.63		$ 1.21		$ 0.34		$ 0.73		$ 1.22		$ 1.00		$ 3.90		$ 3.30		$ 2.75
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35		$ 0.69		$ 1.62		$ 1.21		$ 0.34		$ 0.73		$ 1.21		$ 0.99		$ 3.88		$ 3.28		$ 2.72
Motorcycles Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products																	5,567,681		5,258,290		4,942,582
Operating income	35,900	[2]	146,300	[2]	473,300	[2]	347,700	[2]	60,700	[2]	175,500	[2]	357,700	[2]	276,800	[2]	1,003,147		870,609		715,489
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	62,400		77,800		74,400		63,200		61,300		76,100		74,200		71,500		277,836		283,093		284,687
Financial Services																	$ 660,827		$ 641,582		$ 637,924

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

[2] Operating income for the Motorcycles segment includes restructuring expense (benefit) as discussed in Note 3 for the following periods (in millions): 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Mar 30,2014 Mar 31,2013 June 29,2014 June 30,2013 Sep 28,2014 Sep 29,2013 Dec 31,2014 Dec 31,2013Restructuring expense (benefit) $— $2.9 $— $(5.3) $— $0.6 $— $(0.4)