Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,140,321	$ 1,130,558	$ 4,301,674	$ 4,536,531
Financial Services	177,109	171,046	513,093	491,820
Total revenue	1,317,430	1,301,604	4,814,767	5,028,351
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	746,282	735,958	2,670,146	2,825,661
Financial Services interest expense	41,214	40,141	120,938	119,739
Provision for credit losses	27,233	21,497	68,655	57,789
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	286,865	279,935	866,558	842,512
Total costs and expenses	1,101,594	1,077,531	3,726,297	3,845,701
Operating income	215,836	224,073	1,088,470	1,182,650
Investment income	3,211	1,509	5,983	4,940
Interest expense	4,879	77	4,897	4,147
Income before provision for income taxes	214,168	225,505	1,089,556	1,183,443
Provision for income taxes	73,821	75,439	379,545	413,307
Net income	140,347	150,066	710,011	770,136
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,142,948	1,133,369	4,309,589	4,544,310
Financial Services		0	0	0
Total revenue	$ 1,142,948	1,133,369	4,309,589	4,544,310
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	746,282	735,958	2,670,146	2,825,661
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	251,352	248,669	763,637	744,866
Total costs and expenses	997,634	984,627	3,433,783	3,570,527
Operating income	145,314	148,742	875,806	973,783
Investment income	3,211	1,509	105,983	124,940
Interest expense	4,879	77	4,897	4,147
Income before provision for income taxes	143,646	150,174	976,892	1,094,576
Provision for income taxes	47,703	47,801	303,852	336,677
Net income	95,943	102,373	673,040	757,899
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	177,487	171,429	514,324	493,078
Total revenue	177,487	171,429	514,324	493,078
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	41,214	40,141	120,938	119,739
Provision for credit losses	27,233	21,497	68,655	57,789
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	38,518	34,460	112,067	106,683
Total costs and expenses	106,965	96,098	301,660	284,211
Operating income	70,522	75,331	212,664	208,867
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	70,522	75,331	212,664	208,867
Provision for income taxes	26,118	27,638	75,693	76,630
Net income	44,404	47,693	136,971	132,237
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,627)	(2,811)	(7,915)	(7,779)
Financial Services	(378)	(383)	(1,231)	(1,258)
Total revenue	(3,005)	(3,194)	(9,146)	(9,037)
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	(3,005)	(3,194)	(9,146)	(9,037)
Total costs and expenses	(3,005)	(3,194)	(9,146)	(9,037)
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)