Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 26, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,670,113	$ 1,650,783	$ 3,246,723	$ 3,161,353
Financial Services	190,964	173,609	364,322	335,984
Total revenue	1,861,077	1,824,392	3,611,045	3,497,337
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,062,555	1,003,569	2,048,885	1,923,864
Financial Services interest expense	42,895	41,188	88,814	79,724
Provision for credit losses	23,461	15,175	60,584	41,422
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	319,844	301,944	611,612	579,693
Total costs and expenses	1,448,755	1,361,876	2,809,895	2,624,703
Operating income	412,322	462,516	801,150	872,634
Investment income	688	1,450	1,454	2,772
Interest expense	7,094	9	14,262	18
Income before provision for income taxes	405,916	463,957	788,342	875,388
Provision for income taxes	125,485	164,147	257,422	305,724
Net income	280,431	299,810	530,920	569,664
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,673,379	1,653,759	3,252,018	3,166,641
Financial Services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,673,379	1,653,759	3,252,018	3,166,641
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,062,555	1,003,569	2,048,885	1,923,864
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	285,367	267,149	543,598	512,284
Total costs and expenses	1,347,922	1,270,718	2,592,483	2,436,148
Operating income	325,457	383,041	659,535	730,493
Investment income	43,688	1,450	184,454	102,772
Interest expense	7,094	9	14,262	18
Income before provision for income taxes	362,051	384,482	829,727	833,247
Provision for income taxes	93,788	134,633	204,361	256,149
Net income	268,263	249,849	625,366	577,098
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	191,935	174,147	365,456	336,837
Total revenue	191,935	174,147	365,456	336,837
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	42,895	41,188	88,814	79,724
Provision for credit losses	23,461	15,175	60,584	41,422
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	38,301	38,309	74,275	73,550
Total costs and expenses	104,657	94,672	223,673	194,696
Operating income	87,278	79,475	141,783	142,141
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	87,278	79,475	141,783	142,141
Provision for income taxes	31,697	29,514	53,061	49,575
Net income	55,581	49,961	88,722	92,566
Eliminations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(3,266)	(2,976)	(5,295)	(5,288)
Financial Services	(971)	(538)	(1,134)	(853)
Total revenue	(4,237)	(3,514)	(6,429)	(6,141)
Costs and expenses:
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	(3,824)	(3,514)	(6,261)	(6,141)
Total costs and expenses	(3,824)	(3,514)	(6,261)	(6,141)
Operating income	(413)	0	(168)	0
Investment income	(43,000)	0	(183,000)	(100,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(43,413)	0	(183,168)	(100,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ (43,413)	$ 0	$ (183,168)	$ (100,000)