Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 01, 2018
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 1,384,380	$ 1,542,121
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	848,198	890,174
Financial Services interest expense	52,324	48,450
Provision for credit losses	34,491	30,052
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	268,625	290,186
Restructuring expense	13,630	46,842
Total costs and expenses	1,217,268	1,305,704
Operating income	167,112	236,417
Other income (expense), net	4,660	220
Investment income	6,358	1,203
Interest expense	7,731	7,690
Income before provision for income taxes	170,399	230,150
Provision for income taxes	42,454	55,387
Net income	127,945	174,763
Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Revenue	1,195,637	1,363,947
Financial Services
Revenue:
Revenue	188,743	178,174
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Costs and expenses:
Restructuring expense	13,630	46,842
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Revenue:
Revenue	1,200,009	1,366,246
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	848,703	890,174
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	227,992	254,401
Restructuring expense	13,630	46,842
Total costs and expenses	1,090,325	1,191,417
Operating income	109,684	174,829
Other income (expense), net	4,660	220
Investment income	51,358	111,203
Interest expense	7,731	7,690
Income before provision for income taxes	157,971	278,562
Provision for income taxes	28,557	40,233
Net income	129,414	238,329
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations | Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Revenue	1,200,009	1,366,246
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations | Financial Services
Revenue:
Revenue	0	0
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations
Revenue:
Revenue	186,753	178,460
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	52,324	48,450
Provision for credit losses	34,491	30,052
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	42,588	38,391
Restructuring expense	0	0
Total costs and expenses	129,403	116,893
Operating income	57,350	61,567
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Investment income	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	57,350	61,567
Provision for income taxes	13,897	15,154
Net income	43,453	46,413
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations | Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Revenue	0	0
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations | Financial Services
Revenue:
Revenue	186,753	178,460
Eliminations
Revenue:
Revenue	(2,382)	(2,585)
Costs and expenses:
Costs and expenses	(505)	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(1,955)	(2,606)
Restructuring expense	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(2,460)	(2,606)
Operating income	78	21
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Investment income	(45,000)	(110,000)
Interest expense	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(44,922)	(109,979)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net income	(44,922)	(109,979)
Eliminations | Motorcycles and Related Products
Revenue:
Revenue	(4,372)	(2,299)
Eliminations | Financial Services
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 1,990	$ (286)