Restructuring Expense And Other Impairments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Restructuring Plan Reserve Recorded In Accrued Liabilities

	2011
	Kansas City									New Castalloy										Consolidated
	Employee Severance  and Termination Costs			Other			Total			Employee Severance  and Termination Costs		Accelerated Depreciation			Other		Total			Total
Restructuring expense		8,447			342			8,789			8,428		656			305		9,389			18,178
Utilized – cash		(4,088	)		(342	)		(4,430	)		—		—			—		—			(4,430	)
Utilized – noncash		(236	)		—			(236	)		—		(656	)		—		(656	)		(892	)
Balance, end of period	$	4,123		$	—		$	4,123		$	8,428	$	—		$	305	$	8,733		$	12,856

2010 Restructuring Plan [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Restructuring Plan Reserve Recorded In Accrued Liabilities

	2011			2010
	Employee Severance  and Termination Costs			Employee Severance  and Termination Costs
Balance, beginning of period	$	8,652		$	—
Restructuring expense		12,575			44,383
Utilized – cash		(866	)		(7,557	)
Utilized – noncash		—			(28,174	)
Balance, end of period	$	20,361		$	8,652

2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Summary Of Restructuring Plan Reserve Activity

	2011
	Motorcycles & Related Products															Financial Services									Consolidated
	Employee Severance and Termination Costs			Accelerated Depreciation			Asset Impairment			Other			Total			Employee Severance and Termination Costs			Other			Total			Total
Balance, beginning of period	$	23,818		$	—		$	—		$	2,764		$	26,582		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	26,582
Restructuring expense		5,062			—			—			34,470			39,532			—			—			—			39,532
Utilized – cash		(16,498	)		—			—			(37,234	)		(53,732	)		—			—			—			(53,732	)
Utilized – noncash		—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Noncash reserve release		(2,293	)											(2,293	)											(2,293	)
Balance, end of period	$	10,089		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	10,089		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	10,089
	2010
	Motorcycles & Related Products															Financial Services									Consolidated
	Employee Severance and Termination Costs			Accelerated Depreciation			Asset Impairment			Other			Total			Employee Severance and Termination Costs			Other			Total			Consolidated Total
Balance, beginning of period	$	36,070		$	—		$	—		$	31,422		$	67,492		$	219		$	—		$	219		$	67,711
Restructuring expense		31,119			47,923			—			40,083			119,125			—			—			—			119,125
Utilized – cash		(44,394	)		—			—			(61,514	)		(105,908	)		(44	)		—			(44	)		(105,952	)
Utilized – noncash		1,023			(47,923	)		—			(3,406	)		(50,306	)		(175	)		—			(175	)		(50,481	)
Noncash reserve release		—			—			—			(3,821	)		(3,821	)		—			—			—			(3,821	)
Balance, end of period	$	23,818		$	—		$	—		$	2,764		$	26,582		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	26,582
	2009
	Motorcycles & Related Products															Financial Services									Consolidated
	Employee Severance and Termination Costs			Accelerated Depreciation			Asset Impairment			Other			Total			Employee Severance and Termination Costs			Other			Total			Consolidated Total
Restructuring expense	$	103,769		$	26,905		$	18,024		$	72,278		$	220,976		$	1,679		$	1,623		$	3,302		$	224,278
Utilized – cash		(29,885	)		—			—			(40,856	)		(70,741	)		(1,460	)		(1,197	)		(2,657	)		(73,398	)
Utilized – noncash		(37,814	)		(26,905	)		(18,024	)		—			(82,743	)		—			(426	)		(426	)		(83,169	)
Balance, end of period	$	36,070		$	—		$	—		$	31,422		$	67,492		$	219		$	—		$	219		$	67,711