What do you mean bought them back? Do you know the history of Buell? Really Bart, your inane questions show an unhealthy fixation on all things Harley and Harley related seems like a strange hobby.
The relationship between the two companies hasn't always been easy, but it gave Erik Buell the capital to take his company to the next level. From everything I have read, as a subsidiary of HD, Buell holds its own in profit and has seen steady slow growth even over the course of the economic downturn.
I think they are doing well all things considered.
HD has managed to make some hard decisions about staffing and production, and become a leaner company too.
My guess is that Erik Buell would be in the business no matter who he was working for.
(Choppy? That's one of the strangest and most inaccurate little blurbs on Buell I have ever seen. Inline engines? Kawasaki based Buell drag bikes? STRANGE!)