Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,650,783	$ 1,834,285	$ 3,161,353	$ 3,405,973
Financial Services	173,609	166,414	335,984	320,774
Total revenue	1,824,392	2,000,699	3,497,337	3,726,747
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,003,569	1,110,146	1,923,864	2,089,703
Financial Services interest expense	41,188	40,741	79,724	79,598
Provision for credit losses	15,175	15,961	41,422	36,292
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	301,944	286,156	579,693	562,577
Total costs and expenses	1,361,876	1,453,004	2,624,703	2,768,170
Operating income	462,516	547,695	872,634	958,577
Investment income	1,450	1,772	2,772	3,431
Interest expense	9	393	18	4,070
Income before provision for income taxes	463,957	549,074	875,388	957,938
Provision for income taxes	164,147	194,921	305,724	337,868
Net income	299,810	354,153	569,664	620,070
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,653,759	1,836,974	3,166,641	3,410,941
Financial Services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,653,759	1,836,974	3,166,641	3,410,941
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,003,569	1,110,146	1,923,864	2,089,703
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	267,149	251,432	512,284	496,197
Total costs and expenses	1,270,718	1,361,578	2,436,148	2,585,900
Operating income	383,041	475,396	730,493	825,041
Investment income	1,450	1,772	102,772	123,431
Interest expense	9	393	18	4,070
Income before provision for income taxes	384,482	476,775	833,247	944,402
Provision for income taxes	134,633	168,303	256,149	288,876
Net income	249,849	308,472	577,098	655,526
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	174,147	166,963	336,837	321,649
Total revenue	174,147	166,963	336,837	321,649
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	41,188	40,741	79,724	79,598
Provision for credit losses	15,175	15,961	41,422	36,292
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	38,309	37,962	73,550	72,223
Total costs and expenses	94,672	94,664	194,696	188,113
Operating income	79,475	72,299	142,141	133,536
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	79,475	72,299	142,141	133,536
Provision for income taxes	29,514	26,618	49,575	48,992
Net income	49,961	45,681	92,566	84,544
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,976)	(2,689)	(5,288)	(4,968)
Financial Services	(538)	(549)	(853)	(875)
Total revenue	(3,514)	(3,238)	(6,141)	(5,843)
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,514)	(3,238)	(6,141)	(5,843)
Total costs and expenses	(3,514)	(3,238)	(6,141)	(5,843)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	(100,000)	(120,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	0	0	(100,000)	(120,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ 0	$ 0	$ (100,000)	$ (120,000)