Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 25, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 26, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,428,753	$ 1,021,933	$ 1,494,301	$ 1,630,433
Marketable securities	179,285	140,118	55,229
Accounts receivable, net	285,332	262,382	306,085
Finance receivables, net	1,104,056	1,080,432	1,065,103
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	586,144	699,026	674,371
Inventories	345,963	326,446	319,101
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	238,208	288,887	287,613
Other current assets	217,445	247,402	297,157
Total current assets	4,385,186	4,066,626	4,498,960
Finance receivables, net	2,095,839	1,553,781	2,045,249
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	2,119,789	2,684,330	2,425,788
Property, plant and equipment, net	775,213	815,112	779,991
Goodwill	30,004	29,590	29,992
Other long-term assets	298,328	281,301	260,980
Total Assets	9,704,359	9,430,740	10,040,960
Accounts payable	289,490	225,346	243,840
Accrued liabilities	731,943	556,671	690,811
Short-term debt	774,971	480,472	587,981
Current portion of long-term debt			201,426
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	644,779	751,293	731,833
Total current liabilities	2,441,183	2,013,782	2,455,891
Long-term debt	2,804,605	2,516,650	2,814,400
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	1,350,294	2,003,941	1,801,537
Postretirement healthcare liability	262,096	254,762	272,232
Pension liability	106,795	282,085	353,896
Other long-term liabilities	138,126	152,654	153,054
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	2,601,260	2,206,866	2,189,950
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,704,359	9,430,740	10,040,960
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	995,855	791,791	1,278,025	1,141,862
Marketable securities	179,285	140,118	55,229
Accounts receivable, net	590,611	454,311	600,209
Inventories	345,963	326,446	319,101
Other current assets	159,814	158,692	199,399
Total current assets	2,271,528	1,871,358	2,451,963
Property, plant and equipment, net	746,230	785,139	749,498
Goodwill	30,004	29,590	29,992
Other long-term assets	344,073	324,750	304,467
Total Assets	3,391,835	3,010,837	3,535,920
Accounts payable	246,210	195,642	207,236
Accrued liabilities	627,972	501,741	616,574
Total current liabilities	874,182	697,383	823,810
Long-term debt	303,000	303,000	600,000
Postretirement healthcare liability	262,096	254,762	272,232
Pension liability	106,795	282,085	353,896
Other long-term liabilities	124,031	140,804	140,681
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	1,721,731	1,332,803	1,345,301
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,391,835	3,010,837	3,535,920
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	432,898	230,142	216,276	488,571
Finance receivables, net	1,104,056	1,080,432	1,065,103
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	586,144	699,026	674,371
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	238,208	288,887	287,613
Other current assets	57,631	136,285	97,758
Total current assets	2,418,937	2,434,772	2,341,121
Finance receivables, net	2,095,839	1,553,781	2,045,249
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	2,119,789	2,684,330	2,425,788
Property, plant and equipment, net	28,983	29,973	30,493
Other long-term assets	25,874	25,919	25,120
Total Assets	6,689,422	6,728,775	6,867,771
Accounts payable	348,559	253,794	330,728
Accrued liabilities	107,414	73,569	77,266
Short-term debt	774,971	480,472	587,981
Current portion of long-term debt			201,426
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	644,779	751,293	731,833
Total current liabilities	1,875,723	1,559,128	1,929,234
Long-term debt	2,501,605	2,213,650	2,214,400
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	1,350,294	2,003,941	1,801,537
Other long-term liabilities	14,095	11,850	12,373
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	947,705	940,206	910,227
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,689,422	6,728,775	6,867,771
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	(305,279)	(191,929)	(294,124)
Other current assets		(47,575)
Total current assets	(305,279)	(239,504)	(294,124)
Other long-term assets	(71,619)	(69,368)	(68,607)
Total Assets	(376,898)	(308,872)	(362,731)
Accounts payable	(305,279)	(224,090)	(294,124)
Accrued liabilities	(3,443)	(18,639)	(3,029)
Total current liabilities	(308,722)	(242,729)	(297,153)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	(68,176)	(66,143)	(65,578)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (376,898)	$ (308,872)	$ (362,731)