Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 722,209	$ 906,680	$ 1,066,612	$ 1,066,612	$ 1,068,138
Marketable securities	45,192	57,325
Accounts receivable, net	247,405	247,621
Finance receivables, net	2,053,582	1,916,635
Inventories	585,907	448,871
Restricted cash	88,267	98,627
Deferred income taxes	102,769	89,916
Other current assets	137,823	182,420
Total current assets	3,983,154	3,948,095
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,814,571	4,516,246
Property, plant and equipment, net	942,418	883,077
Goodwill	54,182	27,752
Deferred income taxes	99,614	77,835
Other long-term assets	97,228	75,092
Total assets	9,991,167	9,528,097		9,405,040
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	235,614	196,868
Accrued liabilities	471,964	449,317
Short-term Debt	1,201,380	731,786
Current portion of long-term debt	843,620	1,011,315
Total current liabilities	2,752,578	2,389,286
Long-term debt	4,845,388	3,761,528
Pension liability	164,888	76,186
Postretirement healthcare liability	193,659	203,006
Other long-term liabilities	$ 195,000	$ 188,805
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	$ 1,839,654	$ 2,909,286		3,009,486	2,557,624
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,991,167	9,528,097
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	400,443	573,895		718,912	727,716
Marketable securities	45,192	57,325
Accounts receivable, net	390,799	658,735
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	585,907	448,871
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes	56,319	50,015
Other current assets	90,824	142,278
Total current assets	1,569,484	1,931,119
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	906,972	848,661
Goodwill	54,182	27,752
Deferred income taxes	86,075	75,121
Other long-term assets	140,034	113,727
Total assets	2,756,747	2,996,380
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	220,050	171,098
Accrued liabilities	387,137	370,652
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	607,187	541,750
Long-term debt	746,934	0
Pension liability	164,888	76,186
Postretirement healthcare liability	193,659	203,006
Other long-term liabilities	166,440	164,060
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	877,639	2,011,378
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,756,747	2,996,380
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	321,766	332,785		347,700	340,422
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,053,582	1,916,635
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	88,267	98,627
Deferred income taxes	46,450	39,901
Other current assets	49,078	43,125
Total current assets	2,559,143	2,431,073
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,814,571	4,516,246
Property, plant and equipment, net	35,446	34,416
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	15,681	4,863
Other long-term assets	37,796	39,309
Total assets	7,462,637	7,025,907
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	158,958	436,884
Accrued liabilities	89,048	83,797
Short-term Debt	1,201,380	731,786
Current portion of long-term debt	843,620	1,011,315
Total current liabilities	2,293,006	2,263,782
Long-term debt	4,098,454	3,761,528
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	28,560	24,745
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	1,042,617	975,852
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,462,637	7,025,907
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0		$ 0	$ 0
Marketable securities	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(143,394)	(411,114)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other current assets	(2,079)	(2,983)
Total current assets	(145,473)	(414,097)
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(2,142)	(2,149)
Other long-term assets	(80,602)	(77,944)
Total assets	(228,217)	(494,190)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(143,394)	(411,114)
Accrued liabilities	(4,221)	(5,132)
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	(147,615)	(416,246)
Long-term debt	0	0
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Shareholders’ equity:
Total shareholders’ equity	(80,602)	(77,944)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (228,217)	$ (494,190)