Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,168,724	$ 906,680	$ 935,820	$ 1,066,612
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	57,219	57,325	92,940
Accounts receivable, net	280,497us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	247,621us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	324,979us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Finance receivables, net	2,357,993	1,916,635	2,223,199
Inventories	480,941us-gaap_InventoryNet	448,871us-gaap_InventoryNet	449,044us-gaap_InventoryNet
Restricted cash	120,428	98,627	117,883
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	83,519	89,916	89,070
Other current assets	164,484us-gaap_OtherAssetsMiscellaneousCurrent	182,420us-gaap_OtherAssetsMiscellaneousCurrent	216,606us-gaap_OtherAssetsMiscellaneousCurrent
Total current assets	4,713,805us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	3,948,095us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	4,360,471us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Finance receivables, net	4,490,599	4,516,246	4,214,496
Property, plant and equipment, net	873,518us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	883,077us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	823,061us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Prepaid Pension Costs	0us-gaap_PrepaidPensionCosts	0us-gaap_PrepaidPensionCosts	250,575us-gaap_PrepaidPensionCosts
Goodwill	25,632us-gaap_Goodwill	27,752us-gaap_Goodwill	30,427us-gaap_Goodwill
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	72,176	77,835	3,023
Other long-term assets	88,094	75,092	47,738
Total assets	10,263,824us-gaap_Assets	9,528,097us-gaap_Assets	9,729,791us-gaap_Assets
Accounts payable	440,920us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	196,868us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	454,366us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Accrued liabilities	497,027us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	449,317us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	566,755us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Short-term debt	70,329us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings	731,786us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings	974,153us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	1,500,611us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	1,011,315us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	848,840us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Total current liabilities	2,508,887us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	2,389,286us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	2,844,114us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term debt	4,357,538us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	3,761,528us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	3,271,648us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Pension liability	71,263	76,186	37,261
Postretirement healthcare benefits	199,645	203,006	212,887
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	0	0	35,973
Other long-term liabilities	190,651us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	188,805us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	168,073us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Total shareholders' equity	2,935,840us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	2,909,286us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	3,159,835us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	10,263,824	9,528,097	9,729,791
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	764,175	573,895	548,292	718,912
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	57,219	57,325	92,940
Accounts receivable, net	784,268	658,735	1,240,820
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	480,941	448,871	449,044
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	42,819	50,015
Other current assets	128,579	142,278	146,994
Total current assets	2,258,001	1,931,119	2,478,090
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	840,354	848,661	789,194
Prepaid Pension Costs			250,575
Goodwill	25,632	27,752	30,427
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	62,826
Other long-term assets	117,760	113,727
Total assets	3,304,573	2,996,380	3,662,072
Accounts payable	369,143	171,098	377,780
Accrued liabilities	398,922	370,652	466,685
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	768,065	541,750	844,465
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Pension liability	71,263	76,186	37,261
Postretirement healthcare benefits	199,645	203,006	212,887
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent			146,641
Other long-term liabilities	164,993	164,060	31,864
Total shareholders' equity	2,100,607	2,011,378	2,388,954
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,304,573	2,996,380	3,662,072
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	404,549	332,785	387,528	347,700
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0	0
Finance receivables, net	2,357,993	1,916,635	2,223,199
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	120,428	98,627	117,883
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	40,700	39,901
Other current assets	35,905	43,125	69,612
Total current assets	2,959,575	2,431,073	2,798,222
Finance receivables, net	4,490,599	4,516,246	4,214,496
Property, plant and equipment, net	33,164	34,416	33,867
Prepaid Pension Costs			0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	10,808
Other long-term assets	48,943	39,309
Total assets	7,543,089	7,025,907	7,059,328
Accounts payable	575,548	436,884	992,427
Accrued liabilities	99,563	83,797	101,807
Short-term debt	70,329	731,786	974,153
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	1,500,611	1,011,315	848,840
Total current liabilities	2,246,051	2,263,782	2,917,227
Long-term debt	4,357,538	3,761,528	3,271,648
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent			21,432
Other long-term liabilities	25,658	24,745	2,372
Total shareholders' equity	913,842	975,852	846,649
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	7,543,089	7,025,907	7,059,328
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Current	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(503,771)	(411,114)	(915,841)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Inventories	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current	0	0
Other current assets	0	(2,983)	0
Total current assets	(503,771)	(414,097)	(915,841)
Finance receivables, net	0	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	0
Prepaid Pension Costs			0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	(1,458)
Other long-term assets	(78,609)	(77,944)
Total assets	(583,838)	(494,190)	(991,609)
Accounts payable	(503,771)	(411,114)	(915,841)
Accrued liabilities	(1,458)	(5,132)	(1,737)
Short-term debt	0	0	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	(505,229)	(416,246)	(917,578)
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Pension liability	0	0	0
Postretirement healthcare benefits	0	0	0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent			0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0	1,737
Total shareholders' equity	(78,609)	(77,944)	(75,768)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (583,838)	$ (494,190)	$ (991,609)

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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This represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with other postretirement defined benefit plans (excluding pension plans).

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Cumulative employer's contributions in excess of net pension cost recognized, before the adoption of the recognition provisions of FAS 158. Under FAS 158, prepaid pension costs are no longer recognized in the statement of financial position. Note that there is a separate concept for noncurrent assets relating to defined benefit pension and other defined benefit postretirement plans for use under the recognition provisions of FAS 158.

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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