CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Revenue:
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,414,248	$ 1,273,369
Financial services	156,965	156,322
Total revenue	1,571,213	1,429,691
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	894,806	816,859
Financial services interest expense	40,554	51,256
Financial services provision for credit losses	13,110	9,014
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	271,499	265,653
Restructuring expense	2,938	11,451
Total costs and expenses	1,222,907	1,154,233
Operating income	348,306	275,458
Investment income	1,615	1,933
Interest expense	11,391	11,495
Income before provision for income taxes	338,530	265,896
Provision for income taxes	114,401	93,861
Net income	$ 224,129	$ 172,035
Earnings per common share:
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 1.00	$ 0.75
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.99	$ 0.74
Cash dividends per common share	$ 0.210	$ 0.155
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	224,429	228,988
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements	1,719	2,296