Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies The Company is subject to lawsuits and other claims related to environmental, product and other matters. In determining required reserves related to these items, the Company carefully analyzes cases and considers the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes, as well as the potential range of possible loss. The required reserves are monitored on an ongoing basis and are updated based on new developments or new information in each matter. Environmental Protection Agency Notice: In December 2009, the Company received formal, written requests for information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding: (i) certificates of conformity for motorcycle emissions and related designations and labels, (ii) aftermarket parts, and (iii) warranty claims on emissions related components. The Company promptly submitted written responses to the EPA’s inquiry and has engaged in discussions with the EPA. Since that time, the EPA delivered various additional requests for information to which the Company has responded. More recently, in August 2016, the Company entered into a consent decree with the EPA regarding these issues (the “Settlement”). In the Settlement the Company agreed to, among other things, pay a fine, fund a three-year emissions mitigation project, and not sell tuning products unless they are approved by the EPA or California Air Resources Board. The Company anticipates the EPA will move the court to finalize the Settlement in November 2016. The Company has a reserve associated with this matter which is included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and as a result, if it is finalized, the Settlement would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. The Settlement is not final until it is approved by the court, and if it is not approved by the court, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the impact of any remedies the EPA might seek beyond the Company's current reserve for this matter. York Environmental Matters: The Company is involved with government agencies and groups of potentially responsible parties in various environmental matters, including a matter involving the cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination at its York, Pennsylvania facility. The York facility was formerly used by the U.S. Navy and AMF prior to the purchase of the York facility by the Company from AMF in 1981. Although the Company is not certain as to the full extent of the environmental contamination at the York facility, it has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) since 1986 in undertaking environmental investigation and remediation activities, including a site-wide remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS). In January 1995, the Company entered into a settlement agreement (the Agreement) with the Navy, and the parties amended the Agreement in 2013 to address ordnance and explosive waste. The Agreement calls for the Navy and the Company to contribute amounts into a trust equal to 53% and 47%, respectively, of costs associated with environmental investigation and remediation activities at the York facility (Response Costs). The trust administers the payment of the Response Costs incurred at the York facility as covered by the Agreement. The Company has a reserve for its estimate of its share of the future Response Costs at the York facility which is included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. While much of the work on the RI/FS is complete, it is still under agency review and given the uncertainty that exists concerning the nature and scope of additional environmental investigation and remediation that may ultimately be required under the RI/FS that is finally approved or otherwise at the York facility, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of those additional costs, if any, that may result. The estimate of the Company's future Response Costs that will be incurred at the York facility is based on reports of independent environmental consultants retained by the Company, the actual costs incurred to date and the estimated costs to complete the necessary investigation and remediation activities. Product Liability Matters: The Company is involved in product liability suits related to the operation of its business. The Company accrues for claim exposures that are probable of occurrence and can be reasonably estimated. The Company also maintains insurance coverage for product liability exposures. The Company believes that its accruals and insurance coverage are adequate and that product liability suits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Matters: In July 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it will investigate certain of the Company's model-year 2008-2011 motorcycles equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS). NHTSA’s investigation is in response to rider complaints related to brake failures. NHTSA noted that Harley-Davidson has a two-year brake fluid replacement interval that owners either are unaware of or ignore. The Company does not believe that a loss related to this matter is probable and no reserve has been established. However, it is possible that the outcome of NHTSA’s investigation could result in future costs to the Company. Given the uncertainty that still exists concerning the resolution of this matter, the Company cannot reasonably estimate these possible future costs, if any.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to lawsuits and other claims related to environmental, product and other matters. In determining required reserves related to these items, the Company carefully analyzes cases and considers the likelihood of adverse judgments or outcomes, as well as the potential range of possible loss. The required reserves are monitored on an ongoing basis and are updated based on new developments or new information in each matter.

Environmental Protection Agency Notice:

In December 2009, the Company received formal, written requests for information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding: (i) certificates of conformity for motorcycle emissions and related designations and labels, (ii) aftermarket parts, and (iii) warranty claims on emissions related components. The Company promptly submitted written responses to the EPA’s inquiry and has engaged in discussions with the EPA. Since that time, the EPA delivered various additional requests for information to which the Company has responded. More recently, in August 2016, the Company entered into a consent decree with the EPA regarding these issues (the “Settlement”). In the Settlement the Company agreed to, among other things, pay a fine, fund a three-year emissions mitigation project, and not sell tuning products unless they are approved by the EPA or California Air Resources Board. The Company anticipates the EPA will move the court to finalize the Settlement in November 2016. The Company has a reserve associated with this matter which is included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and as a result, if it is finalized, the Settlement would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. The Settlement is not final until it is approved by the court, and if it is not approved by the court, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the impact of any remedies the EPA might seek beyond the Company's current reserve for this matter.

York Environmental Matters:

The Company is involved with government agencies and groups of potentially responsible parties in various environmental matters, including a matter involving the cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination at its York, Pennsylvania facility. The York facility was formerly used by the U.S. Navy and AMF prior to the purchase of the York facility by the Company from AMF in 1981. Although the Company is not certain as to the full extent of the environmental contamination at the York facility, it has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) since 1986 in undertaking environmental investigation and remediation activities, including a site-wide remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS). In January 1995, the Company entered into a settlement agreement (the Agreement) with the Navy, and the parties amended the Agreement in 2013 to address ordnance and explosive waste.

The Agreement calls for the Navy and the Company to contribute amounts into a trust equal to 53% and 47%, respectively, of costs associated with environmental investigation and remediation activities at the York facility (Response Costs). The trust administers the payment of the Response Costs incurred at the York facility as covered by the Agreement.

The Company has a reserve for its estimate of its share of the future Response Costs at the York facility which is included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. While much of the work on the RI/FS is complete, it is still under agency review and given the uncertainty that exists concerning the nature and scope of additional environmental investigation and remediation that may ultimately be required under the RI/FS that is finally approved or otherwise at the York facility, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of those additional costs, if any, that may result.

The estimate of the Company's future Response Costs that will be incurred at the York facility is based on reports of independent environmental consultants retained by the Company, the actual costs incurred to date and the estimated costs to complete the necessary investigation and remediation activities.

Product Liability Matters:

The Company is involved in product liability suits related to the operation of its business. The Company accrues for claim exposures that are probable of occurrence and can be reasonably estimated. The Company also maintains insurance coverage for product liability exposures. The Company believes that its accruals and insurance coverage are adequate and that product liability suits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Matters:

In July 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it will investigate certain of the Company's model-year 2008-2011 motorcycles equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS). NHTSA’s investigation is in response to rider complaints related to brake failures. NHTSA noted that Harley-Davidson has a two-year brake fluid replacement interval that owners either are unaware of or ignore. The Company does not believe that a loss related to this matter is probable and no reserve has been established. However, it is possible that the outcome of NHTSA’s investigation could result in future costs to the Company. Given the uncertainty that still exists concerning the resolution of this matter, the Company cannot reasonably estimate these possible future costs, if any.