Supplemental Consolidating Data (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Aug. 06, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,068,138	$ 1,526,950	$ 1,021,933		$ 1,630,433
Marketable securities	135,634	153,380
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	188,008	229,655
Accounts receivable, net	230,079	219,039
Finance receivables, net	1,743,045	1,760,467
Inventories	393,524	418,006		4,000
Deferred income taxes	110,853	132,331
Other current assets	181,655	102,378
Total current assets	4,050,936	4,542,206
Finance receivables, net	4,038,807	4,026,214
Property, plant and equipment, net	815,464	809,459
Goodwill	29,530	29,081	29,590		31,400
Deferred income taxes	171,845	202,439
Other long-term assets	64,191	64,765
Total assets	9,170,773	9,674,164	9,430,740
Accounts payable	257,386	255,713
Accrued liabilities	513,591	564,172
Short-term Debt	294,943	838,486
Current portion of long-term debt	437,162	1,040,247
Total current liabilities	1,503,082	2,698,618
Long-term debt	4,370,544	3,843,886
Pension liability	330,294	302,483
Postretirement healthcare liability	278,062	268,582
Other long-term liabilities	131,167	140,339
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Total shareholders' equity	2,557,624	2,420,256	2,206,866		2,108,118
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,170,773	9,674,164
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	727,716	943,330	791,791		1,141,862
Marketable securities	135,634	153,380
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	781,642	393,615
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	393,524	418,006
Deferred income taxes	84,486	96,120
Other current assets	146,419	71,303
Total current assets	2,269,421	2,075,754
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	783,068	779,330
Goodwill	29,530	29,081
Deferred income taxes	175,839	203,605
Other long-term assets	116,925	118,774
Total assets	3,374,783	3,206,544
Accounts payable	221,064	220,957
Accrued liabilities	439,144	482,838
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	660,208	703,795
Long-term debt	303,000	303,000
Pension liability	330,294	302,483
Postretirement healthcare liability	278,062	268,582
Other long-term liabilities	114,476	126,036
Total shareholders' equity	1,688,743	1,502,648
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,374,783	3,206,544
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	340,422	583,620	230,142		488,571
Marketable securities	0	0
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	188,008	229,655
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Finance receivables, net	1,743,045	1,760,467
Inventories	0	0
Deferred income taxes	26,367	36,211
Other current assets	31,242	31,075
Total current assets	2,329,084	2,641,028
Finance receivables, net	4,038,807	4,026,214
Property, plant and equipment, net	32,396	30,129
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	2,538
Other long-term assets	19,468	14,922
Total assets	6,419,755	6,714,831
Accounts payable	587,885	209,332
Accrued liabilities	74,447	85,038
Short-term Debt	294,943	838,486
Current portion of long-term debt	437,162	1,040,247
Total current liabilities	1,394,437	2,173,103
Long-term debt	4,067,544	3,540,886
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	16,691	14,303
Total shareholders' equity	941,083	986,539
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	6,419,755	6,714,831
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(551,563)	(174,576)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other current assets	3,994	0
Total current assets	(547,569)	(174,576)
Finance receivables, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(3,994)	(3,704)
Other long-term assets	(72,202)	(68,931)
Total assets	(623,765)	(247,211)
Accounts payable	(551,563)	(174,576)
Accrued liabilities	0	(3,704)
Short-term Debt	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0
Total current liabilities	(551,563)	(178,280)
Long-term debt	0	0
Pension liability	0	0
Postretirement healthcare liability	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total shareholders' equity	(72,202)	(68,931)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (623,765)	$ (247,211)