So after several stories of newbes getting shafted and a couple of questions and many "don't buy pre'96" and quite frankly getting a couple of them pretty darn cheap... I decided to look into upgrading the starter gears.

Pre'95's don't have a starter torque limiting clutch. So what happens is on shut down the engine kicks back on the last rev. This will engage the one way clutch and bust out the mounting of either the gears or the starter. Not something that can be easily fixed. :'(
But, as it turns out easily prevented. All '96's and later have a torque limiter gear that releases the torque before it blows out the mounts. So how do you get those gears on the old bikes? Simple, buy the torque limiter, a '96 or later idler gear and stator cover. And the darn thing just bolts in.
Here's the stock gears in a '88 case...

And the new gears in a '88 case...

The torque limiter is quite a bit taller than the '88 spur gear.
And the mating idle gear is the same as an '88.
The '96 and later cases machined to fit, but you could rework the old case I've been told.