Investment in Other Affiliates - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)			1 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2012 Brammo, Inc	Oct. 31, 2011 Brammo, Inc	Jul. 24, 2012 Eicher Motors Limited
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in affiliates	$ 7,000,000	$ 5,000,000
Percentage of ownership in joint venture			50.00%
Joint venture investment			$ 50,000,000
Joint venture description			On July 24, 2012, Polaris announced a joint venture agreement with Eicher Motors Limited (Eicher), a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles and motorcycles in India. Polaris and Eicher will each control 50 percent of the joint venture, which is intended to design, develop and manufacture a full range of new vehicles for India and other emerging markets. The overall investment is expected to be approximately $50,000,000, shared equally with Eicher over a three year period.
Investment maturity period			3 years

Investment Maturity Period

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- Definition

This serves as a place to record data that is not required by accounting literature but is useful for readers of the financial statements as it relates to the details of an equity method investment in common stock. Such information may include the amount of change for a change in ownership (equity) percentage in a given period and the amount and type of the consideration given or received in relation to the change in ownership.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

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-Section 50

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a (1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570

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- Definition

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

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