Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2017	Mar. 27, 2016
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,328,711	$ 1,576,610
Financial Services	173,221	173,358
Total revenue	1,501,932	1,749,968
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	851,226	986,330
Financial Services interest expense	43,289	45,919
Provision for credit losses	43,589	37,123
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	272,350	291,768
Total costs and expenses	1,210,454	1,361,140
Operating income	291,478	388,828
Investment income	879	766
Interest expense	7,673	7,168
Income before provision for income taxes	284,684	382,426
Provision for income taxes	98,315	131,937
Net income	186,369	250,489
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,330,618	1,578,639
Financial Services	0	0
Total revenue	1,330,618	1,578,639
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	851,226	986,330
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	238,996	258,231
Total costs and expenses	1,090,222	1,244,561
Operating income	240,396	334,078
Investment income	106,879	140,766
Interest expense	7,673	7,168
Income before provision for income taxes	339,602	467,676
Provision for income taxes	79,157	110,574
Net income	260,445	357,102
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0
Financial Services	173,557	173,521
Total revenue	173,557	173,521
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	43,289	45,919
Provision for credit losses	43,589	37,123
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	35,614	35,974
Total costs and expenses	122,492	119,016
Operating income	51,065	54,505
Investment income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	51,065	54,505
Provision for income taxes	19,158	21,363
Net income	31,907	33,142
Eliminations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(1,907)	(2,029)
Financial Services	(336)	(163)
Total revenue	(2,243)	(2,192)
Costs and expenses:
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	(2,260)	(2,437)
Total costs and expenses	(2,260)	(2,437)
Operating income	17	245
Investment income	(106,000)	(140,000)
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(105,983)	(139,755)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	$ (105,983)	$ (139,755)