Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,510,570	$ 1,571,688
Financial Services	162,375	154,360
Total revenue	1,672,945	1,726,048
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	920,295	979,557
Financial Services interest expense	38,536	38,857
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses	26,247	20,331
Provision for credit losses	26,247	20,331
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	277,749	276,421
Total costs and expenses	1,262,827	1,315,166
Operating income	410,118	410,882
Investment income	1,322	1,659
Interest expense	9	3,677
Income before provision for income taxes	411,431	408,864
Provision for income taxes	141,577	142,947
Net income	269,854	265,917
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,512,882	1,573,967
Financial Services	0	0
Total revenue	1,512,882	1,573,967
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	920,295	979,557
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	245,135	244,765
Total costs and expenses	1,165,430	1,224,322
Operating income	347,452	349,645
Investment income	101,322	121,659
Interest expense	9	3,677
Income before provision for income taxes	448,765	467,627
Provision for income taxes	121,516	120,573
Net income	327,249	347,054
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0
Financial Services	162,690	154,686
Total revenue	162,690	154,686
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	38,536	38,857
Provision for credit losses	26,247	20,331
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	35,241	34,261
Total costs and expenses	100,024	93,449
Operating income	62,666	61,237
Investment income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	62,666	61,237
Provision for income taxes	20,061	22,374
Net income	42,605	38,863
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,312)	(2,279)
Financial Services	(315)	(326)
Total revenue	(2,627)	(2,605)
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(2,627)	(2,605)
Total costs and expenses	(2,627)	(2,605)
Operating income	0	0
Investment income	(100,000)	(120,000)
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(100,000)	(120,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	$ (100,000)	$ (120,000)