Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 25, 2017	Jun. 26, 2016	Jun. 25, 2017	Jun. 26, 2016
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	$ 1,577,135	$ 1,670,113	$ 2,905,846	$ 3,246,723
Financial Services	188,034	190,964	361,255	364,322
Total revenue	1,765,169	1,861,077	3,267,101	3,611,045
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,001,512	1,062,555	1,852,738	2,048,885
Financial Services interest expense	44,408	42,895	87,697	88,814
Provision for credit losses	26,217	23,461	69,806	60,584
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	291,450	319,844	563,800	611,612
Total costs and expenses	1,363,587	1,448,755	2,574,041	2,809,895
Operating income	401,582	412,322	693,060	801,150
Investment income	577	688	1,456	1,454
Interest expense	7,726	7,094	15,399	14,262
Income before provision for income taxes	394,433	405,916	679,117	788,342
Provision for income taxes	135,566	125,485	233,881	257,422
Net income	258,867	280,431	445,236	530,920
Reportable Legal Entities | Motorcycles And Related Products Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	1,580,109	1,673,379	2,910,727	3,252,018
Financial Services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,580,109	1,673,379	2,910,727	3,252,018
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	1,001,512	1,062,555	1,852,738	2,048,885
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	256,513	285,367	495,509	543,598
Total costs and expenses	1,258,025	1,347,922	2,348,247	2,592,483
Operating income	322,084	325,457	562,480	659,535
Investment income	577	43,688	107,456	184,454
Interest expense	7,726	7,094	15,399	14,262
Income before provision for income taxes	314,935	362,051	654,537	829,727
Provision for income taxes	106,035	93,788	185,192	204,361
Net income	208,900	268,263	469,345	625,366
Reportable Legal Entities | Financial Services Operations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	0	0	0	0
Financial Services	188,712	191,935	362,269	365,456
Total revenue	188,712	191,935	362,269	365,456
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	44,408	42,895	87,697	88,814
Provision for credit losses	26,217	23,461	69,806	60,584
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	38,448	38,301	74,062	74,275
Total costs and expenses	109,073	104,657	231,565	223,673
Operating income	79,639	87,278	130,704	141,783
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	79,639	87,278	130,704	141,783
Provision for income taxes	29,531	31,697	48,689	53,061
Net income	50,108	55,581	82,015	88,722
Eliminations
Revenue:
Motorcycles and Related Products	(2,974)	(3,266)	(4,881)	(5,295)
Financial Services	(678)	(971)	(1,014)	(1,134)
Total revenue	(3,652)	(4,237)	(5,895)	(6,429)
Costs and expenses:
Motorcycles and Related Products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial Services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,511)	(3,824)	(5,771)	(6,261)
Total costs and expenses	(3,511)	(3,824)	(5,771)	(6,261)
Operating income	(141)	(413)	(124)	(168)
Investment income	0	(43,000)	(106,000)	(183,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	(141)	(43,413)	(106,124)	(183,168)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ (141)	$ (43,413)	$ (106,124)	$ (183,168)