Supplemental Consolidating Data (Operations) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	$ 1,089,268	$ 1,232,699	$ 3,931,684	$ 3,635,487
Financial services	161,027	164,557	477,962	492,296
Total revenue	1,250,295	1,397,256	4,409,646	4,127,783
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	711,364	817,308	2,533,453	2,399,962
Financial services interest expense	46,231	61,907	146,199	176,933
Financial services provision for credit losses	9,069	6,189	12,823	5,005
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	257,359	256,735	806,257	759,274
Restructuring expense	9,170	12,429	26,841	49,022
Total costs and expenses	1,033,193	1,154,568	3,525,573	3,390,196
Operating income	217,102	242,688	884,073	737,587
Investment income	1,447	2,479	5,611	5,625
Interest expense	11,438	11,270	34,528	34,101
Income before provision for income taxes	207,111	233,897	855,156	709,111
Provision for income taxes	73,110	50,303	301,870	215,677
Income from continuing operations	134,001	183,594	553,286	493,434
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	134,001	183,594	553,286	493,434
Motorcycles And Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	1,091,887	1,234,913	3,939,673	3,643,206
Financial services	0	0	0	0
Total revenue	1,091,887	1,234,913	3,939,673	3,643,206
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	711,364	817,308	2,533,453	2,399,962
Financial services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Financial services provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	224,393	223,213	709,240	662,376
Restructuring expense	9,170	12,429	26,841	49,022
Total costs and expenses	944,927	1,052,950	3,269,534	3,111,360
Operating income	146,960	181,963	670,139	531,846
Investment income	1,447	2,479	230,611	130,625
Interest expense	11,438	11,270	34,528	34,101
Income before provision for income taxes	136,969	173,172	866,222	628,370
Provision for income taxes	47,859	27,906	224,854	141,074
Income from continuing operations	89,110	145,266	641,368	487,296
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	89,110	145,266	641,368	487,296
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	0	0	0	0
Financial services	161,438	165,512	478,187	493,782
Total revenue	161,438	165,512	478,187	493,782
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial services interest expense	46,231	61,907	146,199	176,933
Financial services provision for credit losses	9,069	6,189	12,823	5,005
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	35,996	36,691	105,231	106,103
Restructuring expense	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	91,296	104,787	264,253	288,041
Operating income	70,142	60,725	213,934	205,741
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	70,142	60,725	213,934	205,741
Provision for income taxes	25,251	22,397	77,016	74,603
Income from continuing operations	44,891	38,328	136,918	131,138
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	44,891	38,328	136,918	131,138
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Motorcycles and related products	(2,619)	(2,214)	(7,989)	(7,719)
Financial services	(411)	(955)	(225)	(1,486)
Total revenue	(3,030)	(3,169)	(8,214)	(9,205)
Motorcycles and related products cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Financial services interest expense	0	0	0	0
Financial services provision for credit losses	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and engineering expense	(3,030)	(3,169)	(8,214)	(9,205)
Restructuring expense	0	0	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(3,030)	(3,169)	(8,214)	(9,205)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	(225,000)	(125,000)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Income before provision for income taxes	0	0	(225,000)	(125,000)
Provision for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	0	0	(225,000)	(125,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	$ 0	$ 0	$ (225,000)	$ (125,000)