Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 5,567,681	[1]	$ 5,258,290	[1]	$ 4,942,582	[1]
Financial Services	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
Financial Services provision for credit losses	80,946		60,008		22,239
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	1,159,502		1,126,884		1,111,232
Restructuring (benefit) 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
Income before provision for income taxes	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	$ 844,611		$ 733,993		$ 623,925
Earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.90		$ 3.30		$ 2.75
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.88		$ 3.28		$ 2.72
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.90		$ 3.30		$ 2.75
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.88		$ 3.28		$ 2.72
Cash dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.10		$ 0.840		$ 0.620

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