Starter Drive
The Gold Wing starter does not use a benex or starter drive that mates with a flywheel as used in cars. Instead it mates directly with a gear, which is the starter clutch. The clutch and starter are always in contact with each other. This clutch assembly will rotate freely in one direction. The other direction it will lock as when the starter is turned on to start the engine. Once the engine starts the clutch free wheels in order to avoid spinning the starter.
Tom, geting back to your question.
If there was a weak battery or poor wiring connection the engine would crank over slowly.
It's possible there could be a problem with the planetary assembly attached to the drive end of the starter. If one of the little locating pins on the sun gear is broken or missing it could cause the starter to free wheel and not turn the starter clutch.
Otherwise there could be a problem with the starter clutch, which is in the transmission.

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