Restructuring Expense (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Apr. 01, 2012	Mar. 27, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense			$ 11,451,000	$ 22,999,000
Labor agreement period (in years)	7	7
2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated restructuring expense			15,000,000
Estimated percentage of restructuring charges that will be non-cash			10.00%
Incurred restructuring and impairment expenses			500,000
2011 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Kansas City Facility [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash restructuring expense				200,000
Less employees: required under existing contract			145
2010 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated restructuring expense			67,000,000
Estimated percentage of restructuring charges that will be non-cash			42.00%
Cumulative restructuring and impairment expenses			61,500,000
Incurred restructuring and impairment expenses			4,500,000
2010 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Milwaukee Facilities [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Less employees: required under existing contract			250
2010 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Tomahawk Facilities [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Less employees: required under existing contract			75
2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense			6,004,000	13,339,000
Non-cash restructuring expense				(296,000)
Estimated percentage of restructuring charges that will be non-cash			30.00%
Restructuring and impairment expenses, minimum			388,000,000
Restructuring and impairment expenses, maximum			408,000,000
Cumulative restructuring and impairment expenses			386,600,000
Incurred restructuring and impairment expenses			3,300,000
Reduction in hourly production positions, minimum			2,700
Reduction in hourly production positions, maximum			2,900
Employees who have left the Company due to restructuring			3,600
Employee severance costs			2,700,000
2009 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Motorcycles [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated reduction in salaried positions from restructuring			720
2009 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated reduction in salaried positions from restructuring			100
2011 Kansas City Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Cumulative restructuring and impairment expenses			9,300,000
2011 New Castalloy Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Estimated reduction in workforce			200
Estimated restructuring expense			30,000,000
Non-cash restructuring expense			30,000,000
Estimated percentage of restructuring charges that will be non-cash			35.00%
Cumulative restructuring and impairment expenses			12,400,000
Incurred restructuring and impairment expenses			$ 3,000,000