Supplementary Data (Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
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]
Operating income									1,155,695		1,280,983		1,153,702
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]
Income (loss) before 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
Income (loss) 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
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.69	$ 1.44	$ 1.28	$ 0.35	$ 0.70	$ 1.63	$ 1.21	$ 3.71		$ 3.90		$ 3.30
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.69	$ 1.44	$ 1.27	$ 0.35	$ 0.69	$ 1.62	$ 1.21	$ 3.69		$ 3.88		$ 3.28
Motorcycles Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products									$ 5,308,744		$ 5,567,681		$ 5,258,290
Operating income	$ 6,400	$ 143,100	$ 380,600	$ 345,500	$ 35,900	$ 146,300	$ 473,300	$ 347,700	875,490		1,003,147		870,609
Financial Services Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 60,900	$ 72,800	$ 81,900	$ 64,700	$ 62,400	$ 77,800	$ 74,400	$ 63,200	280,205		277,836		283,093
Financial Services									$ 686,658		$ 660,827		$ 641,582

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