Kawasaki engine starter issues, lots of clicks before it will crank!

I am stuck!

Turn key and I get the click from solenoid but sometimes starter doesn't spin. Turn key enough times, 6 to 12 attempts sometimes, and eventually the starter will kick in and crank the engine and engine starts immediately.

Battery is good. 12v on the multimeter. When starter kicks in the battery spins the starter and engine plenty fast. I can hold off on applying choke to test how well the battery does. I can crank the engine for many seconds and I can do this many times. Battery has no problem doing that.

I've cleaned contacts for both cables on both ends of each cable.

I've replaced solenoid on starter.

I put in a new starter plus solenoid assembly and the new one was worse. IT took 20-30 attemps to get the starter to crank the engine. Finally the starter cranked. This happened twice in a row when I was testing the new starter. I put the original starter back in.

I rerouted the negative battery cable to ground right at one of the bolts that holds the starter instead of on the frame. No improvement.

This starting issue is a real pain. Doesnt seem to change depending on the temperature.

Anyone have a suggestion where I go from here?