Additional Balance Sheet And Cash Flow Information (Inventories, Net) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 25, 2011
Inventory [Line Items]
Components at the lower of FIFO cost or market Raw materials and work in process	$ 121,184	$ 113,932	$ 95,957
Motorcycle finished goods	169,515	226,261	154,273
Parts and accessories and general merchandise	132,789	121,340	131,708
Inventory at lower of FIFO cost or market	423,488	461,533	381,938
Excess of FIFO over LIFO cost	(44,359)	(43,527)	(35,975)
Inventories, net	$ 379,129	$ 418,006	$ 345,963

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Amount before last-in first-out (LIFO) and valuation reserves of merchandise or goods held by the entity that are readily available for sale.

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Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of merchandise, goods, commodities, or supplies held for future sale or to be used in manufacturing, servicing or production process.

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Reflects the difference between (a) inventory at the lower of LIFO cost or market and (b) inventory at replacement cost or at the lower of some acceptable inventory accounting method (such as FIFO or average cost), or market. If material, reflects an excess of replacement or current cost over stated LIFO value parenthetically on the balance sheet or in a note to the financial statements.

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Carrying amount (lower of cost or market) as of the balance sheet date of inventories less all valuation and other allowances. Excludes noncurrent inventory balances (expected to remain on hand past one year or one operating cycle, if longer).

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

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The aggregate carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of items held by the entity which are partially completed at the time of measurement and unprocessed items that will go through the production process and become part of the final product. Includes supplies used directly or indirectly in the manufacturing or production process. This element may be used when the reporting entity combines work in process and raw materials into an aggregate amount.

+ References

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

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Gross amount of components of assembled products that can be sold directly or indirectly through sales of assembled products.

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