Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,091,630	$ 1,140,321	$ 4,338,353	$ 4,301,674
Financial Services	183,183	177,109	547,505	513,093
Total revenue	1,274,813	1,317,430	4,885,858	4,814,767
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	724,611	746,282	2,773,496	2,670,146
Financial Services interest expense	42,573	41,214	131,387	120,938
Provision for credit losses	36,543	27,233	97,127	68,655
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	292,710	286,865	904,322	866,558
Total costs and expenses	1,096,437	1,101,594	3,906,332	3,726,297
Operating income	178,376	215,836	979,526	1,088,470
Investment income	2,300	3,211	3,754	5,983
Interest expense	7,706	4,879	21,968	4,897
Income before provision for income taxes	172,970	214,168	961,312	1,089,556
Provision for income taxes	58,905	73,821	316,327	379,545
Net income	114,065	140,347	644,985	710,011
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,094,148	1,142,948	4,346,166	4,309,589
Financial Services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,094,148	1,142,948	4,346,166	4,309,589
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	724,611	746,282	2,773,496	2,670,146
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	258,541	251,352	802,139	763,637
Total costs and expenses	983,152	997,634	3,575,635	3,433,783
Operating income	110,996	145,314	770,531	875,806
Investment income	2,300	3,211	186,754	105,983
Interest expense	7,706	4,879	21,968	4,897
Income before provision for income taxes	105,590	143,646	935,317	976,892
Provision for income taxes	33,895	47,703	238,256	303,852
Net income	71,695	95,943	697,061	673,040
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	183,706	177,487	549,162	514,324
Total revenue	183,706	177,487	549,162	514,324
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	42,573	41,214	131,387	120,938
Provision for credit losses	36,543	27,233	97,127	68,655
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	37,139	38,518	111,414	112,067
Total costs and expenses	116,255	106,965	339,928	301,660
Operating income	67,451	70,522	209,234	212,664
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	67,451	70,522	209,234	212,664
Provision for income taxes	25,010	26,118	78,071	75,693
Net income	42,441	44,404	131,163	136,971
Eliminations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,518)	(2,627)	(7,813)	(7,915)
Financial Services	(523)	(378)	(1,657)	(1,231)
Total revenue	(3,041)	(3,005)	(9,470)	(9,146)
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	(2,970)	(3,005)	(9,231)	(9,146)
Total costs and expenses	(2,970)	(3,005)	(9,231)	(9,146)
Operating income	(71)	0	(239)	0
Investment income	0	0	(183,000)	(100,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(71)	0	(183,239)	(100,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ (71)	$ 0	$ (183,239)	$ (100,000)