April 25 (Reuters) - Harley-Davidson ( HOG ) posted a

23% decline in first-quarter profit on Thursday, hurt by slow

sales of its motorcycles in North America as high borrowing

costs deter potential buyers from making expensive purchases.

The company reported a consolidated net income of $235

million, or $1.72 per share, for the first quarter, compared

with $304 million, or $2.04 per share, a year earlier.

(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil

D'Silva)