Supplemental Consolidating Data (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2011	Mar. 27, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 70,600	$ 134,000	$ 247,300	$ 172,000	$ 105,600	$ 183,600	$ 190,600	$ 119,300	$ 623,925,000	$ 599,114,000	$ 146,545,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0	51,000	0	0	0	0	51,036,000	(113,124,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	70,600	134,000	247,300	172,000	54,600	183,600	190,600	119,300	623,925,000	548,078,000	259,669,000
Depreciation									168,978,000	180,408,000	255,171,000
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									78,592,000	78,695,000	87,223,000
Amortization of financing origination fees									9,969,000	10,790,000	19,618,000
Provision for employee long-term benefits									71,347,000	59,441,000	79,630,000
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									(244,416,000)	(219,695,000)	(39,391,000)
Stock compensation expense									40,815,000	38,192,000	30,431,000
Net change in wholesale finance receivables									2,513,000	(2,335,000)	81,527,000
Provision for credit losses									22,239,000	17,031,000	93,118,000
Loss on debt extinguishmement - cash flow									4,323,000	9,608,000	85,247,000
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense									6,242,000	236,000	31,824,000
Deferred income taxes									128,452,000	87,873,000	(17,591,000)
Foreign currency adjustments									(9,773,000)	(10,678,000)	(21,480,000)
Other, net									(7,216,000)	(15,807,000)	11,910,000
Accounts receivable									(13,690,000)	43,050,000	2,905,000
Finance receivables - accrued interest and other									(4,000)	5,027,000	10,083,000
Inventories									21,459,000	(94,957,000)	2,516,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(10,798,000)	120,291,000	215,013,000
Restructuring reserves									(16,087,000)	8,072,000	(32,477,000)
Derivative instruments									2,758,000	(2,488,000)	5,339,000
Prepaid and other									(97,716,000)	3,103,000	3,133,000
Total adjustments									177,533,000	337,213,000	903,749,000
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									801,458,000	885,291,000	1,163,418,000
Capital expenditures									(189,002,000)	(189,035,000)	(170,845,000)
Origination of finance receivables									(2,858,701,000)	(2,622,024,000)	(2,252,532,000)
Collections on finance receivables									2,768,089,000	2,760,049,000	2,668,962,000
Purchases of marketable securities									(4,993,000)	(142,653,000)	(184,365,000)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									23,296,000	130,121,000	84,217,000
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations									(261,311,000)	(63,542,000)	145,437,000
Proceeds from issuance of medium term notes									993,737,000	447,076,000	0
Repayment of medium term notes									(420,870,000)	(59,211,000)	(200,000,000)
Repayment of senior unsecured notes									0	0	(380,757,000)
Proceeds from securitization debt									763,895,000	1,082,599,000	598,187,000
Repayments of securitization debt									(1,405,599,000)	(1,754,568,000)	(1,896,665,000)
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									(744,724,000)	237,827,000	30,575,000
Net borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									200,417,000	0	0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									(24,301,000)	(483,000)	(845,000)
Net change in restricted cash									41,647,000	59,232,000	77,654,000
Dividends									(141,681,000)	(111,011,000)	(94,145,000)
Purchase of common stock for treasury, net of issuances									(311,632,000)	(224,548,000)	(1,706,000)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									13,065,000	6,303,000	3,767,000
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									45,973,000	7,840,000	7,845,000
Net cash (used by) provided by financing activities of continuing operations									(990,073,000)	(308,944,000)	(1,856,090,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									(8,886,000)	(7,788,000)	4,940,000
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									(458,812,000)	505,017,000	(542,295,000)
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations									0	0	(71,073,000)
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations									0	0	(1,195,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations									0	0	(72,268,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(458,812,000)	505,017,000	(614,563,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period				1,526,950,000				1,021,933,000	1,526,950,000	1,021,933,000	1,630,433,000
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period				0				0	0	0	6,063,000
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period	0				0				0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	1,068,138,000				1,526,950,000				1,068,138,000	1,526,950,000	1,021,933,000
Intercompany Loans, Description									0
Motorcycles & Related Products Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									677,048,000	558,807,000	32,226,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	51,036,000	(113,124,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									677,048,000	507,771,000	145,350,000
Depreciation									162,659,000	173,959,000	248,246,000
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									0	0	0
Amortization of financing origination fees									473,000	473,000	878,000
Provision for employee long-term benefits									67,612,000	55,942,000	78,812,000
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									244,416,000	219,695,000	(39,391,000)
Stock compensation expense									37,544,000	35,404,000	28,105,000
Net change in wholesale finance receivables									0	0	0
Provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishmement - cash flow									0	0	85,247,000
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense									6,242,000	236,000	31,824,000
Deferred income taxes									(117,772,000)	(71,555,000)	(16,774,000)
Foreign currency adjustments									(9,773,000)	(10,678,000)	(21,480,000)
Other, net									(2,290,000)	(16,650,000)	13,178,000
Accounts receivable									9,323,000	(60,403,000)	(101,462,000)
Finance receivables - accrued interest and other									0	0	0
Inventories									(21,459,000)	94,957,000	2,516,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(6,368,000)	81,670,000	196,155,000
Restructuring reserves									(16,087,000)	8,072,000	(32,258,000)
Derivative instruments									(2,906,000)	2,519,000	(813,000)
Prepaid and other									95,162,000	(1,154,000)	3,888,000
Total adjustments									71,440,000	165,725,000	476,671,000
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									748,488,000	673,496,000	622,021,000
Capital expenditures									180,416,000	179,988,000	167,730,000
Origination of finance receivables									0	0	0
Collections on finance receivables									0	0	0
Purchases of marketable securities									4,993,000	142,653,000	184,365,000
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									23,296,000	130,121,000	84,217,000
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations									(162,113,000)	(192,520,000)	(267,878,000)
Proceeds from issuance of medium term notes									0	0
Repayment of medium term notes									0	0	0
Repayment of senior unsecured notes											380,757,000
Proceeds from securitization debt									0	0	0
Repayments of securitization debt									0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									0	0	(178,292,000)
Net borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net change in restricted cash									0	0	0
Dividends									141,681,000	111,011,000	94,145,000
Purchase of common stock for treasury, net of issuances									311,632,000	224,548,000	1,706,000
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									13,065,000	6,303,000	3,767,000
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									45,973,000	7,840,000	7,845,000
Net cash (used by) provided by financing activities of continuing operations									(794,275,000)	(321,416,000)	(643,288,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									(7,714,000)	(8,021,000)	5,279,000
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									(215,614,000)	151,539,000	(283,866,000)
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations									0	0	(71,073,000)
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations									0	0	(1,195,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations									0	0	(72,268,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(215,614,000)	151,539,000	(356,134,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period				943,330,000				791,791,000	943,330,000	791,791,000	1,141,862,000
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period				0				0	0	0	6,063,000
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period	0				0				0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	727,716,000				943,330,000				727,716,000	943,330,000	791,791,000
Intercompany Loans, Description									-400000
Financial Services Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									171,877,000	165,307,000	114,319,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									171,877,000	165,307,000	114,319,000
Depreciation									6,319,000	6,449,000	6,925,000
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									(78,592,000)	(78,695,000)	87,223,000
Amortization of financing origination fees									9,496,000	10,317,000	18,740,000
Provision for employee long-term benefits									3,735,000	3,499,000	818,000
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									0	0	0
Stock compensation expense									3,271,000	2,788,000	2,326,000
Net change in wholesale finance receivables									0	0	0
Provision for credit losses									22,239,000	17,031,000	93,118,000
Loss on debt extinguishmement - cash flow									(4,323,000)	(9,608,000)	0
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense									0	0	0
Deferred income taxes									(10,680,000)	(16,318,000)	(817,000)
Foreign currency adjustments									0	0	0
Other, net									(4,926,000)	843,000	(1,268,000)
Accounts receivable									0	0	0
Finance receivables - accrued interest and other									(4,000)	5,027,000	10,083,000
Inventories									0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									(27,443,000)	(25,989,000)	170,832,000
Restructuring reserves									0	0	(219,000)
Derivative instruments									148,000	(31,000)	6,152,000
Prepaid and other									2,554,000	(49,524,000)	(48,330,000)
Total adjustments									103,580,000	174,141,000	345,583,000
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									275,457,000	339,448,000	459,902,000
Capital expenditures									8,586,000	9,047,000	3,115,000
Origination of finance receivables									6,544,828,000	6,056,242,000	5,319,738,000
Collections on finance receivables									6,456,729,000	6,191,932,000	5,817,695,000
Purchases of marketable securities									0	0	0
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									0	0	0
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations									(96,685,000)	126,643,000	494,842,000
Proceeds from issuance of medium term notes									993,737,000	447,076,000
Repayment of medium term notes									420,870,000	59,211,000	200,000,000
Repayment of senior unsecured notes											0
Proceeds from securitization debt									763,895,000	1,082,599,000	598,187,000
Repayments of securitization debt									1,405,599,000	1,754,568,000	1,896,665,000
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									(744,724,000)	237,827,000	208,867,000
Net borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									200,417,000
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									24,301,000	483,000	845,000
Net change in restricted cash									41,647,000	59,232,000	77,654,000
Dividends									225,000,000	125,000,000	0
Purchase of common stock for treasury, net of issuances									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									0	0	0
Net cash (used by) provided by financing activities of continuing operations									(420,798,000)	(112,528,000)	(1,212,802,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									(1,172,000)	(85,000)	(371,000)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									(243,198,000)	353,478,000	(258,429,000)
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations									0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(243,198,000)	353,478,000	(258,429,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period				583,620,000				230,142,000	583,620,000	230,142,000	488,571,000
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period				0				0	0	0	0
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period	0				0				0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	340,422,000				583,620,000				340,422,000	583,620,000	230,142,000
Intercompany Loans, Description									400000
Eliminations & Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income (loss)									(225,000,000)	(125,000,000)	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(225,000,000)	(125,000,000)	0
Depreciation									0	0	0
Amortization of deferred loan origination costs									0	0	0
Amortization of financing origination fees									0	0	0
Provision for employee long-term benefits									0	0	0
Contributions to pension and postretirement plans									0	0	0
Stock compensation expense									0	0	0
Net change in wholesale finance receivables									2,513,000	(2,335,000)	81,527,000
Provision for credit losses									0	0	0
Loss on debt extinguishmement - cash flow									0	0	0
Pension and postretirement healthcare plan curtailment and settlement expense									0	0	0
Deferred income taxes									0	0	0
Foreign currency adjustments									0	0	0
Other, net									0	0	0
Accounts receivable									(23,013,000)	17,353,000	104,367,000
Finance receivables - accrued interest and other									0	0	0
Inventories									0	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities									23,013,000	64,610,000	(151,974,000)
Restructuring reserves									0	0	0
Derivative instruments									0	0	0
Prepaid and other									0	47,575,000	47,575,000
Total adjustments									2,513,000	(2,653,000)	81,495,000
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations									(222,487,000)	(127,653,000)	81,495,000
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Origination of finance receivables									(3,686,127,000)	(3,434,218,000)	(3,067,206,000)
Collections on finance receivables									(3,688,640,000)	(3,431,883,000)	(3,148,733,000)
Purchases of marketable securities									0	0	0
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities									0	0	0
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations									(2,513,000)	2,335,000	(81,527,000)
Proceeds from issuance of medium term notes									0	0
Repayment of medium term notes									0	0	0
Repayment of senior unsecured notes											0
Proceeds from securitization debt									0	0	0
Repayments of securitization debt									0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper									0	0	0
Net borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper									0
Net repayments in asset-backed commercial paper									0	0	0
Net change in restricted cash									0	0	0
Dividends									(225,000,000)	(125,000,000)	0
Purchase of common stock for treasury, net of issuances									0	0	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments									0	0	0
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans									0	0	0
Net cash (used by) provided by financing activities of continuing operations									225,000,000	125,000,000	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									0	318,000	32,000
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations									0	0	0
Cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations									0	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations									0	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period				0				0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period				0				0	0	0	0
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period	0				0				0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Intercompany Loans, Description									0