Restructuring Expense And Other Impairments (Restructuring Plan Reserve Recorded In Accrued Liabilities Related To The 2011 Plan And 2010 Plan) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		$ 28,475,000	$ 67,992,000	$ 163,508,000
Balance, beginning of period		43,310,000
Noncash reserve release	43,500,000
Balance, end of period	43,310,000	27,223,000	43,310,000
Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		4,005,000	12,575,000	44,383,000
Balance, beginning of period		20,361,000	8,652,000	0
Utilized - cash		12,898,000	866,000	7,557,000
Utilized - noncash		0	0	(28,174,000)
Noncash reserve release		(1,312,000)	0	0
Balance, end of period	20,361,000	10,156,000	20,361,000	8,652,000
Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member] | Motorcycles & Related Products [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		4,099,000	5,062,000	31,119,000
Balance, beginning of period		10,089,000	23,818,000	36,070,000
Utilized - cash		6,566,000	16,498,000	44,394,000
Utilized - noncash		0	0	1,023,000
Noncash reserve release		(2,426,000)	(2,293,000)	0
Balance, end of period	10,089,000	5,196,000	10,089,000	23,818,000
Accelerated Depreciation [Member] | Motorcycles & Related Products [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		0	0	47,923,000
Balance, beginning of period		0	0	0
Utilized - cash		0	0	0
Utilized - noncash		0	0	(47,923,000)
Noncash reserve release		0	0	0
Balance, end of period	0	0	0	0
2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		12,819,000	18,178,000
Balance, beginning of period		12,856,000
Utilized - cash		3,889,000	4,430,000
Utilized - noncash		(8,212,000)	(892,000)
Noncash reserve release		(1,864,000)
Balance, end of period	12,856,000	11,710,000	12,856,000
2010 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Utilized - noncash		0.45		28,200,000
Other Restructuring [Member] | Motorcycles & Related Products [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		13,154,000	34,470,000	40,083,000
Balance, beginning of period		0	2,764,000	31,422,000
Utilized - cash		12,993,000	37,234,000	61,514,000
Utilized - noncash		0	0	(3,406,000)
Noncash reserve release		0	0	(3,821,000)
Balance, end of period	0	161,000	0	2,764,000
Kansas City [Member] | Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		0	8,447,000
Balance, beginning of period		4,123,000
Utilized - cash		0	4,088,000
Utilized - noncash		0	(236,000)
Noncash reserve release		(1,864,000)
Balance, end of period	4,123,000	2,259,000	4,123,000
Kansas City [Member] | 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		0	8,789,000
Balance, beginning of period		4,123,000
Utilized - cash		0	4,430,000
Utilized - noncash		0	(236,000)
Noncash reserve release		(1,864,000)
Balance, end of period	4,123,000	2,259,000	4,123,000
Kansas City [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		0	342,000
Balance, beginning of period		0
Utilized - cash		0	342,000
Utilized - noncash		0	0
Noncash reserve release		0
Balance, end of period	0	0	0
New Castalloy [Member] | Employee Severance And Termination Costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		3,180,000	8,428,000
Balance, beginning of period		8,428,000
Utilized - cash		2,302,000	0
Utilized - noncash		0	0
Noncash reserve release		0
Balance, end of period	8,428,000	9,306,000	8,428,000
New Castalloy [Member] | Accelerated Depreciation [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		8,212,000	656,000
Balance, beginning of period		0
Utilized - cash		0	0
Utilized - noncash		(8,212,000)	(656,000)
Noncash reserve release		0
Balance, end of period	0	0	0
New Castalloy [Member] | 2011 Restructuring Plan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		12,819,000	9,389,000
Balance, beginning of period		8,733,000
Utilized - cash		3,889,000	0
Utilized - noncash		(8,212,000)	(656,000)
Noncash reserve release		0
Balance, end of period	8,733,000	9,451,000	8,733,000
New Castalloy [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring expense		1,427,000	305,000
Balance, beginning of period		305,000
Utilized - cash		1,587,000	0
Utilized - noncash		0	0
Noncash reserve release		0
Balance, end of period	$ 305,000	$ 145,000	$ 305,000