Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Changes in Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ (332,676)		$ (607,678)		$ (476,733)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(306,040)		380,229		(249,337)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Reclassifications, Tax	108,225		(146,132)		92,361
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(197,815)		234,097		(156,976)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	24,695		64,964		41,303
Income tax expense (benefit)	(9,147)		(24,059)		(15,272)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	15,548		40,905		26,031
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(182,267)		275,002		(130,945)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(514,943)		(332,676)		(607,678)
Prior Service Costs [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(2,734)	[1]	(2,107)	[1]	(895)	[1]
Actuarial Losses [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	41,292	[1]	67,157	[1]	51,295	[1]
Curtailment and Settlement Losses [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax					6,242
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(13,635)	[2]	(482)	[2]	(18,586)	[2]
Commodity Contract [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(228)	[2]	51	[2]	705	[2]
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax			345	[3]	2,542	[3]
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	33,326		51,335		49,935
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(50,310)		(20,192)		2,212
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Reclassifications, Tax	13,502		2,183		(812)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(36,808)		(18,009)		1,400
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	0		0		0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0		0		0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0		0		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(36,808)		(18,009)		1,400
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(3,482)		33,326		51,335
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(276)		677		327
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(673)		(1,514)		556
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Reclassifications, Tax	249		561		(206)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(424)		(953)		350
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	0		0		0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0		0		0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0		0		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(424)		(953)		350
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(700)		(276)		677
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1,680)		(3,837)		6,307
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	46,775		3,505		(814)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Reclassifications, Tax	(17,325)		(1,298)		301
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	29,450		2,207		(513)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(13,863)		(86)		(15,339)
Income tax expense (benefit)	5,135		36		5,708
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(8,728)		(50)		(9,631)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	20,722		2,157		(10,144)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	19,042		(1,680)		(3,837)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(13,635)	[2]	(482)	[2]	(18,586)	[2]
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(228)	[2]	51	[2]	705	[2]
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax			345	[3]	2,542	[3]
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(364,046)		(655,853)		(533,302)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(301,832)		398,430		(251,291)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Reclassifications, Tax	111,799		(147,578)		93,078
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(190,033)		250,852		(158,213)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	38,558		65,050		56,642
Income tax expense (benefit)	(14,282)		(24,095)		(20,980)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	24,276		40,955		35,662
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(165,757)		291,807		(122,551)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(529,803)		(364,046)		(655,853)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Prior Service Costs [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(2,734)	[1]	(2,107)	[1]	(895)	[1]
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Actuarial Losses [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	41,292	[1]	67,157	[1]	51,295	[1]
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Curtailment and Settlement Losses [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax					$ 6,242

[1] Amounts reclassified are included in the computation of net periodic cost. See Note 13 for information related to pension and postretirement benefit plans.

[2] Amounts reclassified to net income are included in motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold.

[3] Amounts reclassified to net income are presented in financial services interest expense.