Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 26, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,071,496	$ 1,526,950	$ 973,478	$ 1,021,933
Marketable securities	135,848	153,380	244,555
Accounts receivable, net	250,268	219,039	265,663
Finance receivables, net	1,398,553	1,168,603	1,144,886
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	456,285	591,864	573,208
Inventories	323,046	418,006	337,472
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	188,564	229,655	244,060
Other current assets	245,807	234,709	217,656
Total current assets	4,069,867	4,542,206	4,000,978
Finance receivables, net	2,569,187	1,754,441	2,306,165
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	1,592,544	2,271,773	1,939,181
Property, plant and equipment, net	776,793	809,459	788,943
Goodwill	28,604	29,081	31,156
Other long-term assets	279,789	267,204	295,556
Total Assets	9,316,784	9,674,164	9,361,979
Accounts payable	252,239	255,713	277,395
Accrued liabilities	535,097	564,172	590,096
Short-term debt	845,868	838,486	694,137
Current portion of long-term debt	399,962	399,916
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	507,427	640,331	635,604
Total current liabilities	2,540,593	2,698,618	2,197,232
Long-term debt	2,745,189	2,396,871	2,893,462
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	831,805	1,447,015	1,217,778
Pension liability	122,496	302,483	103,511
Postretirement healthcare benefits	263,295	268,582	258,881
Other long-term liabilities	147,019	140,339	159,719
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	2,666,387	2,420,256	2,531,396
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,316,784	9,674,164	9,361,979
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	725,909	943,330	681,804	791,791
Marketable securities	135,848	153,380	244,555
Accounts receivable, net	885,797	393,615	710,791
Inventories	323,046	418,006	337,472
Other current assets	182,464	167,423	160,059
Total current assets	2,253,064	2,075,754	2,134,681
Property, plant and equipment, net	747,133	779,330	758,828
Goodwill	28,604	29,081	31,156
Other long-term assets	335,811	322,379	339,666
Total Assets	3,364,612	3,206,544	3,264,331
Accounts payable	197,891	220,957	243,954
Accrued liabilities	466,808	482,838	522,533
Total current liabilities	664,699	703,795	766,487
Long-term debt	303,000	303,000	303,000
Pension liability	122,496	302,483	103,511
Postretirement healthcare benefits	263,295	268,582	258,881
Other long-term liabilities	131,754	126,036	146,286
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	1,879,368	1,502,648	1,686,166
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,364,612	3,206,544	3,264,331
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	345,587	583,620	291,674	230,142
Finance receivables, net	1,398,553	1,168,603	1,144,886
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	456,285	591,864	573,208
Restricted cash held by variable interest entities	188,564	229,655	244,060
Other current assets	63,343	67,286	57,597
Total current assets	2,452,332	2,641,028	2,311,425
Finance receivables, net	2,569,187	1,754,441	2,306,165
Restricted finance receivables held by variable interest entities, net	1,592,544	2,271,773	1,939,181
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,660	30,129	30,115
Other long-term assets	17,956	17,460	26,711
Total Assets	6,661,679	6,714,831	6,613,597
Accounts payable	689,877	209,332	478,569
Accrued liabilities	71,756	85,038	70,880
Short-term debt	845,868	838,486	694,137
Current portion of long-term debt	399,962	399,916
Current portion of long-term debt held by variable interest entities	507,427	640,331	635,604
Total current liabilities	2,514,890	2,173,103	1,879,190
Long-term debt	2,442,189	2,093,871	2,590,462
Long-term debt held by variable interest entities	831,805	1,447,015	1,217,778
Other long-term liabilities	15,265	14,303	13,433
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	857,530	986,539	912,734
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,661,679	6,714,831	6,613,597
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	(635,529)	(174,576)	(445,128)
Total current assets	(635,529)	(174,576)	(445,128)
Other long-term assets	(73,978)	(72,635)	(70,821)
Total Assets	(709,507)	(247,211)	(515,949)
Accounts payable	(635,529)	(174,576)	(445,128)
Accrued liabilities	(3,467)	(3,704)	(3,317)
Total current liabilities	(638,996)	(178,280)	(448,445)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	(70,511)	(68,931)	(67,504)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (709,507)	$ (247,211)	$ (515,949)