Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Pre-tax loss from foreign currency remeasurements	$ 15,100	$ 21,500	$ 28,400
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Marketable securities, gross unrealized losses	$ 200	600
Marketable securities, gross unrealized loss, net of tax	$ 100	400
Marketable securities maturity period (in months)	4 months
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	$ 2,700	2,900
Repossessed inventory	19,300	17,700
Other inventories	221,700	266,600
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Liability for recall campaign	79,482	74,217	69,250	$ 64,120
Research and development expenses	172,300	161,200	138,300
Advertising costs	137,400	119,800	107,400
Total share-based award compensation expense	32,300	29,400	37,900
Total share-based award compensation expense, net of taxes	20,400	18,500	23,900
Net change in restricted cash	$ 43,495	11,410	22,755
Retail
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Threshold days past due for write-off of financing receivable (in days)	120 days
Long-term Debt, Net, Current Portion And Long-term Debt, net | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs, net		18,200
Other Current Assets And Other Long-term Assets | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs, net		(18,200)
Extended Service Contracts
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Deferred revenue related to extended service contracts	$ 4,500	4,600
Recall Campaign
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Liability for recall campaign	$ 13,600	$ 10,200	$ 9,800
Parts And Accessories And General Merchandise
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Standard product warranty, period (in years)	1 year
All Countries, Excluding Japan | Motorcycles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Standard product warranty, period (in years)	2 years
Japan | Motorcycles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Standard product warranty, period (in years)	3 years
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	30 years
Building Equipment and Land Improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	7 years
Machinery and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	3 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	10 years
Furniture and Fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	5 years
Software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	3 years
Software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment (in years)	7 years