Starter Motor Failure

Hoping this may not be the beginning of the end for my old Bandit - 2001 - 1200S with 106,000km on the clock
Hoping for some ideas, suggestions or cures.
Been having real problems with cold damp morning starts.
Was only starting with no choke, would just catch and warm it up. 
Then the starter gave up engaging with an air release sound. 
Bump started back to life and starter re-engaged once warm.
Tried getting the starter out but near impossible for me to get to fixing screws!
New spark plugs improved morning starts.
Now gone back to the starter not engaging.
Start with a bump but still no starter engaging even when warm

Any ideas welcome

Hi,
Air sound would starter not engaging and free spinning.
Need to remove left cover and have a squizz.

My limited experience, and it would depend on how many times you stopped and started the Beast, but 106000 klm seems low to me for a starter motor to be giving issues.
My Speedo is broken, so I'm half guessing I've done about 150 plus with not an issue out of my 02.
Can you use a screwdriver to short across the starter terminals ala old ford/Holdens to see what happens?

A pic of inside of left cover.
Starter spins on outside of item 1, turning assembly.
Could be starter teeth slipping, missing teeth on any of the gears, loose bolt allowing everything to spin freely. 
 Starter is a pain to get out, replace O-ring if you do.

Thanks Guys, Got the side off and found the bolt loose on the starter clutch. Manual says needs special tool to hold clutch and tight to 15Nm. Guess I am going to have to make do with tight as I can and locktite.

15NM isn't that much, should be good to go and keep on going, and going.
Congrats on finding and fixing

Thanks for the help
Still loving my old Bandit