Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2011	Jun. 27, 2010	Jun. 26, 2011	Jun. 27, 2010
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,339,744	$ 1,135,101	$ 2,402,788	$ 2,172,436
Financial services	165,853	173,705	327,739	343,542
Total revenue	1,505,597	1,308,806	2,730,527	2,515,978
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	871,476	738,117	1,582,654	1,395,905
Financial services interest expense	56,991	69,121	115,026	150,324
Financial services provision for credit losses	(6,790)	9,262	(1,184)	41,068
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	268,424	243,429	502,539	478,779
Restructuring expense	13,594	30,125	36,593	78,361
Total costs and expenses	1,203,695	1,090,054	2,235,628	2,144,437
Operating income	301,902	218,752	494,899	371,541
Investment income	1,748	1,551	3,146	2,427
Interest expense	11,350	23,591	22,831	47,046
Income before provision for income taxes	292,300	196,712	475,214	326,922
Provision for income taxes	101,720	57,425	165,374	118,894
Income from continuing operations	190,580	139,287	309,840	208,028
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(68,130)		(103,546)
Net income	190,580	71,157	309,840	104,482
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Motorcycles and related products	1,342,803	1,135,562	2,408,293	2,172,897
Total revenue	1,342,803	1,135,562	2,408,293	2,172,897
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	871,476	738,117	1,582,654	1,395,905
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	235,492	209,574	439,163	414,466
Restructuring expense	13,594	30,125	36,593	78,361
Total costs and expenses	1,120,562	977,816	2,058,410	1,888,732
Operating income	222,241	157,746	349,883	284,165
Investment income	1,748	1,551	128,146	2,427
Interest expense	11,350	23,591	22,831	47,046
Income before provision for income taxes	212,639	135,706	455,198	239,546
Provision for income taxes	73,042	35,463	113,168	87,438
Income from continuing operations	139,597	100,243	342,030	152,108
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(68,130)		(103,546)
Net income	139,597	32,113	342,030	48,562
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Financial services	166,518	174,327	328,270	343,852
Total revenue	166,518	174,327	328,270	343,852
Financial services interest expense	56,991	69,121	115,026	150,324
Financial services provision for credit losses	(6,790)	9,262	(1,184)	41,068
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	36,656	34,938	69,412	65,084
Total costs and expenses	86,857	113,321	183,254	256,476
Operating income	79,661	61,006	145,016	87,376
Income before provision for income taxes	79,661	61,006	145,016	87,376
Provision for income taxes	28,678	21,962	52,206	31,456
Income from continuing operations	50,983	39,044	92,810	55,920
Net income	50,983	39,044	92,810	55,920
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Motorcycles and related products	(3,059)	(461)	(5,505)	(461)
Financial services	(665)	(622)	(531)	(310)
Total revenue	(3,724)	(1,083)	(6,036)	(771)
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,724)	(1,083)	(6,036)	(771)
Total costs and expenses	(3,724)	(1,083)	(6,036)	(771)
Investment income			(125,000)
Income before provision for income taxes			(125,000)
Income from continuing operations			(125,000)
Net income			$ (125,000)