Restructuring Expense And Other Impairments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member] Kansas City [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member] Kansas City [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member] New Castalloy [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member] New Castalloy [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member] Kansas City [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member] Kansas City [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member] New Castalloy [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member] New Castalloy [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2011 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member] Motorcycles Segment [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member] Financial Services Segment [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 2010 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 2010 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2010 Restructuring Plan [Member] Milwaukee Facilities [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 2010 Restructuring Plan [Member] Tomahawk Facilities [Member] Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Motorcycles & Related Products [Member] Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Motorcycles & Related Products [Member] Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Motorcycles & Related Products [Member] Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Motorcycles & Related Products [Member] 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Motorcycles & Related Products [Member] 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Motorcycles & Related Products [Member] 2009 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	$ 43,500,000	$ (1,312,000)	$ 0	$ 0	$ (1,864,000)		$ 0		$ (1,864,000)		$ (1,864,000)		$ 0		$ (2,426,000)	$ (2,293,000)	$ (3,821,000)							$ (2,426,000)	$ (2,293,000)	$ 0		$ (2,293,000)	$ (3,821,000)
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Number of Positions Eliminated											145		200
Restructuring charges, net of reserve releases															14,800,000
Full-time employee implementation contract													12,800,000
Fewer Full Time Hourly Unionized Employees																						250	75
Non-cash restructuring expense		0	0	(28,174,000)	0	(236,000)	0	0	(8,212,000)	(892,000)	0	(236,000)	(8,212,000)	(656,000)	0	0	(50,481,000)			0.45	28,200,000			0	0	1,023,000	0	0	(50,306,000)
Expected percentage of restructuring charges that will be non-cash											10.00%		35.00%		30.00%
Cumulative restructuring and impairment expense											6,900,000		22,200,000		395,400,000					59,700,000
Reduction in hourly production positions, minimum															2,700
Reduction in hourly production positions, maximum															2,900
Estimated reduction in salaried positions from restructuring																		800	100
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost													$ 31,000,000		$ 397,000,000