Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 27, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,276,337	$ 1,526,950	$ 932,515	$ 1,021,933
Marketable securities	134,946	153,380	115,209
Accounts receivable, net	264,272	219,039	297,671
Finance receivables, net	1,339,139	1,168,603	1,276,780
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	546,350	591,864	637,760
Inventories	467,941	418,006	372,323
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	246,995	229,655	294,903
Other current assets	237,550	234,709	243,427
Total current assets	4,513,530	4,542,206	4,170,588
Finance receivables, net	2,020,036	1,754,441	1,806,563
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	1,971,878	2,271,773	2,304,320
Property, plant and equipment, net	791,064	809,459	799,091
Goodwill	29,740	29,081	30,988
Other long-term assets	279,099	267,204	293,592
Total Assets	9,605,347	9,674,164	9,405,142
Accounts payable	355,902	255,713	292,676
Accrued liabilities	577,619	564,172	580,083
Short-term debt	629,143	838,486	393,393
Current portion of long-term debt	399,939	399,916
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	620,624	640,331	721,179
Total current liabilities	2,583,227	2,698,618	1,987,331
Long-term debt	2,784,688	2,396,871	2,963,375
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	1,133,696	1,447,015	1,603,584
Pension liability	118,212	302,483	99,627
Postretirement healthcare benefits	265,871	268,582	254,505
Other long-term liabilities	144,994	140,339	156,472
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Total shareholders' equity	2,574,659	2,420,256	2,340,248
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,605,347	9,674,164	9,405,142
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	929,028	943,330	663,026	791,791
Marketable securities	134,946	153,380	115,209
Accounts receivable, net	581,569	393,615	630,437
Inventories	467,941	418,006	372,323
Other current assets	174,053	167,423	172,062
Total current assets	2,287,537	2,075,754	1,953,057
Property, plant and equipment, net	761,191	779,330	769,480
Goodwill	29,740	29,081	30,988
Other long-term assets	336,167	322,379	336,759
Total Assets	3,414,635	3,206,544	3,090,284
Accounts payable	280,738	220,957	246,746
Accrued liabilities	478,227	482,838	493,896
Total current liabilities	758,965	703,795	740,642
Long-term debt	303,000	303,000	303,000
Pension liability	118,212	302,483	99,627
Postretirement healthcare benefits	265,871	268,582	254,505
Other long-term liabilities	130,278	126,036	145,739
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Total shareholders' equity	1,838,309	1,502,648	1,546,771
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,414,635	3,206,544	3,090,284
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	347,309	583,620	269,489	230,142
Finance receivables, net	1,339,139	1,168,603	1,276,780
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	546,350	591,864	637,760
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	246,995	229,655	294,903
Other current assets	63,497	67,286	71,365
Total current assets	2,543,290	2,641,028	2,550,297
Finance receivables, net	2,020,036	1,754,441	1,806,563
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	1,971,878	2,271,773	2,304,320
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,873	30,129	29,611
Other long-term assets	15,970	17,460	26,701
Total Assets	6,581,047	6,714,831	6,717,492
Accounts payable	392,461	209,332	378,696
Accrued liabilities	102,722	85,038	89,253
Short-term debt	629,143	838,486	393,393
Current portion of long-term debt	399,939	399,916
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	620,624	640,331	721,179
Total current liabilities	2,144,889	2,173,103	1,582,521
Long-term debt	2,481,688	2,093,871	2,660,375
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	1,133,696	1,447,015	1,603,584
Other long-term liabilities	14,716	14,303	10,733
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Total shareholders' equity	806,058	986,539	860,279
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,581,047	6,714,831	6,717,492
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	(317,297)	(174,576)	(332,766)
Total current assets	(317,297)	(174,576)	(332,766)
Other long-term assets	(73,038)	(72,635)	(69,868)
Total Assets	(390,335)	(247,211)	(402,634)
Accounts payable	(317,297)	(174,576)	(332,766)
Accrued liabilities	(3,330)	(3,704)	(3,066)
Total current liabilities	(320,627)	(178,280)	(335,832)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Total shareholders' equity	(69,708)	(68,931)	(66,802)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (390,335)	$ (247,211)	$ (402,634)