Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 26, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 27, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 973,478	$ 1,021,933	$ 1,414,912	$ 1,630,433
Marketable securities	244,555	140,118	86,518
Accounts receivable, net	265,663	262,382	248,620
Finance receivables held for investment, net	1,144,886	1,080,432	1,061,598
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	573,208	699,026	743,697
Inventories	337,472	326,446	296,920
Assets of discontinued operations			85,126
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	244,060	288,887	344,595
Other current assets	217,656	247,402	304,015
Total current assets	4,000,978	4,066,626	4,586,001
Finance receivables held for investment, net	2,306,165	1,553,781	1,717,644
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, non-current	1,939,181	2,684,330	2,850,684
Property, plant and equipment, net	788,943	815,112	810,104
Goodwill	31,156	29,590	28,110
Other long-term assets	295,556	281,301	231,350
Total Assets	9,361,979	9,430,740	10,223,893
Accounts payable	277,395	225,346	241,719
Accrued liabilities	590,096	556,671	592,185
Liabilities of discontinued operations			61,501
Short-term debt	694,137	480,472	322,941
Current portion of long-term debt			341,452
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	635,604	751,293	817,602
Total current liabilities	2,197,232	2,013,782	2,377,400
Long-term debt	2,893,462	2,516,650	2,825,334
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	1,217,778	2,003,941	2,227,025
Pension liability	103,511	282,085	244,115
Postretirement healthcare liability	258,881	254,762	265,326
Other long-term liabilities	159,719	152,654	147,689
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	2,531,396	2,206,866	2,137,004
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,361,979	9,430,740	10,223,893
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	681,804	791,791	1,244,541
Marketable securities	244,555	140,118	86,518
Accounts receivable, net	710,791	454,311	519,272
Inventories	337,472	326,446	296,920
Assets of discontinued operations			85,126
Other current assets	160,059	158,692	206,588
Total current assets	2,134,681	1,871,358	2,438,965
Property, plant and equipment, net	758,828	785,139	778,849
Goodwill	31,156	29,590	28,110
Other long-term assets	339,666	324,750	269,106
Total Assets	3,264,331	3,010,837	3,515,030
Accounts payable	243,954	195,642	206,400
Accrued liabilities	522,533	501,741	537,256
Liabilities of discontinued operations			61,501
Current portion of long-term debt			138,537
Total current liabilities	766,487	697,383	943,694
Long-term debt	303,000	303,000	600,000
Pension liability	103,511	282,085	244,115
Postretirement healthcare liability	258,881	254,762	265,326
Other long-term liabilities	146,286	140,804	135,830
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	1,686,166	1,332,803	1,326,065
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,264,331	3,010,837	3,515,030
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	291,674	230,142	170,371
Finance receivables held for investment, net	1,144,886	1,080,432	1,061,598
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	573,208	699,026	743,697
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	244,060	288,887	344,595
Other current assets	57,597	136,285	97,427
Total current assets	2,311,425	2,434,772	2,417,688
Finance receivables held for investment, net	2,306,165	1,553,781	1,717,644
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, non-current	1,939,181	2,684,330	2,850,684
Property, plant and equipment, net	30,115	29,973	31,255
Other long-term assets	26,711	25,919	29,987
Total Assets	6,613,597	6,728,775	7,047,258
Accounts payable	478,569	253,794	305,971
Accrued liabilities	70,880	73,569	57,732
Short-term debt	694,137	480,472	322,941
Current portion of long-term debt			202,915
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	635,604	751,293	817,602
Total current liabilities	1,879,190	1,559,128	1,707,161
Long-term debt	2,590,462	2,213,650	2,225,334
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	1,217,778	2,003,941	2,227,025
Other long-term liabilities	13,433	11,850	11,859
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	912,734	940,206	875,879
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,613,597	6,728,775	7,047,258
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Accounts receivable, net	(445,128)	(191,929)	(270,652)
Other current assets		(47,575)
Total current assets	(445,128)	(239,504)	(270,652)
Other long-term assets	(70,821)	(69,368)	(67,743)
Total Assets	(515,949)	(308,872)	(338,395)
Accounts payable	(445,128)	(224,090)	(270,652)
Accrued liabilities	(3,317)	(18,639)	(2,803)
Total current liabilities	(448,445)	(242,729)	(273,455)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	(67,504)	(66,143)	(64,940)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (515,949)	$ (308,872)	$ (338,395)