Business Segments (Information By Strategic Business Units) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017	Jul. 01, 2018	Jun. 25, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles net revenue	$ 1,525,121	$ 1,577,135	$ 2,889,068	$ 2,905,846
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	313,047	291,084	603,233	563,068
Restructuring expense	12,370	0	59,212	0
Financial Services revenue	188,102	188,034	366,276	361,255
Operating income	323,947	399,287	560,364	688,469
Motorcycles and Related Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles net revenue	1,525,121		2,889,068
Restructuring expense	12,370		59,212
Financial Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial Services revenue	188,102		366,276
Operating Segments \| Motorcycles and Related Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles net revenue	1,525,121	1,577,135	2,889,068	2,905,846
Gross profit	532,085	572,962	1,005,858	1,047,785
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	276,309	255,610	530,402	493,887
Restructuring expense	12,370	0	59,212	0
Operating income	243,406	317,352	416,244	553,898
Operating Segments \| Financial Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Financial Services revenue	188,102	188,034	366,276	361,255
Financial Services expense	107,561	106,099	222,156	226,684
Operating income	$ 80,541	$ 81,935	$ 144,120	$ 134,571

The aggregate costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered by an entity.

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The aggregate financial services revenue and operating interest income earned during the reporting period.

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Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

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-Publisher FASB
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 330
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-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68048583&loc=d3e3636-108311

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