Restructuring Expense (Restructuring Plan Reserve Recorded in Accrued Liabilities Related to 2011 Plan) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Kansas City Restructuring Plan [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jun. 26, 2011 2011 Kansas City Restructuring Plan [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Kansas City Restructuring Plan [Member] Employee Serverance And Termination Costs [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jun. 26, 2011 2011 Kansas City Restructuring Plan [Member] Employee Serverance And Termination Costs [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jun. 26, 2011 2011 Kansas City Restructuring Plan [Member] Other [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 New Castalloy Restructuring Plan [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 New Castalloy Restructuring Plan [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 New Castalloy Restructuring Plan [Member] Employee Serverance And Termination Costs [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 New Castalloy Restructuring Plan [Member] Other [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 New Castalloy Restructuring Plan [Member] Accelerated Depreciation [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]	Jul. 01, 2012 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member] Motorcycles And Related Products [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of period		$ 4,123		$ 4,123				$ 8,733	$ 8,428	$ 305		$ 12,856
Restructuring expense			7,517		7,177	340		5,989	1,141	755	4,093	5,989
Utilized-cash			(4,183)		(3,843)	(340)		(1,034)	(312)	(722)		(1,034)
Utilized-noncash			(236)		(236)		(30,000)	(4,093)			(4,093)	(4,093)
Noncash reserve release	43,500	(967)		(967)								(967)
Balance, end of period		$ 3,156	$ 3,098	$ 3,156	$ 3,098			$ 9,595	$ 9,257	$ 338		$ 12,751