Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,007,100	$ 1,140,300	$ 1,650,800	$ 1,510,600	$ 1,031,200	$ 1,130,600	$ 1,834,300	$ 1,571,700	$ 5,308,744	[1]	$ 5,567,681	[1]	$ 5,258,290	[1]
Financial Services	173,600	177,100	173,600	162,400	169,000	171,000	166,400	154,400	686,658	[1]	660,827	[1]	641,582	[1]
Total revenue									5,995,402		6,228,508		5,899,872
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									3,356,284		3,542,601		3,395,918
Financial Services interest expense									161,983		164,476		165,491
Provision for employee long-term benefits									101,345		80,946		60,008
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,220,095		1,159,502		1,124,753
Total costs and expenses									4,839,707		4,947,525		4,746,170
Operating income									1,155,695		1,280,983		1,153,702
Investment income									6,585		6,499		5,859
Interest expense									12,117		4,162		45,256
Loss on debt extinguishment									1,099		3,942		4,947
Income before provision for income taxes	60,600	214,200	464,000	411,400	99,900	225,500	549,100	408,900	1,150,163		1,283,320		1,114,305
Provision for income taxes									397,956		438,709		380,312
Income from continuing operations									752,207		844,611		733,993
Net income	$ 42,200	$ 140,300	$ 299,800	$ 269,900	$ 74,500	$ 150,100	$ 354,200	$ 265,900	752,207		844,611		733,993
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									(10,106)		(10,016)		(10,190)
Financial Services									(1,553)		(1,518)		(1,485)
Total revenue									(11,659)		(11,534)		(11,675)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									0		0		0
Financial Services interest expense									0		0		0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0		0		0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									(11,659)		(11,534)		(11,675)
Total costs and expenses									(11,659)		(11,534)		(11,675)
Operating income									0		0		0
Investment income									(100,000)		(120,000)		(185,000)
Interest expense									0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment									0		0		0
Income before provision for income taxes									(100,000)		(120,000)		(185,000)
Provision for income taxes									0		0		0
Income from continuing operations									(100,000)
Net income									(100,000)		(120,000)		(185,000)
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									5,318,850		5,577,697		5,268,480
Financial Services									0		0		0
Total revenue									5,318,850		5,577,697		5,268,480
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									3,356,284		3,542,601		3,395,918
Financial Services interest expense									0		0		0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0		0		0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									1,078,525		1,023,450		993,247
Total costs and expenses									4,434,809		4,566,051		4,389,165
Operating income									884,041		1,011,646		879,315
Investment income									106,585		126,499		190,859
Interest expense									12,117		4,162		45,256
Loss on debt extinguishment									0		0		0
Income before provision for income taxes									978,509		1,133,983		1,024,918
Provision for income taxes									300,499		338,453		279,841
Income from continuing operations									678,010
Net income									678,010		795,530		745,077
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products									0		0		0
Financial Services									688,211		662,345		643,067
Total revenue									688,211		662,345		643,067
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold									0		0		0
Financial Services interest expense									161,983		164,476		165,491
Provision for employee long-term benefits									101,345		80,946		60,008
Selling, administrative and engineering expense									153,229		147,586		143,181
Total costs and expenses									416,557		393,008		368,680
Operating income									271,654		269,337		274,387
Investment income									0		0		0
Interest expense									0		0		0
Loss on debt extinguishment									1,099		3,942		4,947
Income before provision for income taxes									271,654		269,337		274,387
Provision for income taxes									97,457		100,256		100,471
Income from continuing operations									174,197
Net income									$ 174,197		$ 169,081		$ 173,916

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