Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,576,610	$ 1,510,570
Financial Services	173,358	162,375
Total revenue	1,749,968	1,672,945
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	986,330	920,295
Financial Services interest expense	45,919	38,536
Provision for credit losses	37,123	26,247
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	291,768	277,749
Total costs and expenses	1,361,140	1,262,827
Operating income	388,828	410,118
Investment income	766	1,322
Interest expense	7,168	9
Income before provision for income taxes	382,426	411,431
Provision for income taxes	131,937	141,577
Net income	250,489	269,854
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,578,639	1,512,882
Financial Services	0	0
Total revenue	1,578,639	1,512,882
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	986,330	920,295
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	258,231	245,135
Total costs and expenses	1,244,561	1,165,430
Operating income	334,078	347,452
Investment income	140,766	101,322
Interest expense	7,168	9
Income before provision for income taxes	467,676	448,765
Provision for income taxes	110,574	121,516
Net income	357,102	327,249
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0
Financial Services	173,521	162,690
Total revenue	173,521	162,690
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	45,919	38,536
Provision for credit losses	37,123	26,247
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	35,974	35,241
Total costs and expenses	119,016	100,024
Operating income	54,505	62,666
Investment income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	54,505	62,666
Provision for income taxes	21,363	20,061
Net income	33,142	42,605
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,029)	(2,312)
Financial Services	(163)	(315)
Total revenue	(2,192)	(2,627)
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(2,437)	(2,627)
Total costs and expenses	(2,437)	(2,627)
Operating income	245	0
Investment income	(140,000)	(100,000)
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(139,755)	(100,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	$ (139,755)	$ (100,000)