Some bikes have a fast idle cam coupled to the choke lever, which bumps up the idle speed during choke application.
Yes, the CB550K3, CB550K4 and the CB550F2 to be precise. NOT the bike in this thread.
The US model CB500 and the CB550 through 74 has a knob under the throttle to apply friction to the grip twist. This can be used to obtain and hold a higher idle speed while the engine warms without holding hand on throttle. The knob under the bar is easier to reach than the carb throttle stop knob, and you don't have to readjust the carb idle knob again after the engine warms, as it will settle in to it previous warm idle speed once warming is complete.
My model happens to have both and I find the one under the bar not easy at all and I wonder what it
really was ment for. I know nobody that uses it for what TT describes. It is not even mentioned as such in the Owner's Manuals. To
me it is no surprise that the knob under the bar dissappeared on other models. Why not do what Honda suggests? Just keep the throttle twisted inwards a bit. All of the 39 years that I have owned my CB500, I did it either as Honda recommends or used the idle adjust knob.
Once you have the bike sorted, I find no need for a stationary idle period.
Not that long ago the technicians of the Dutch AA advised even with modern bikes to let them idle for a minute or so after a start.
The bike can be driven in low performance mode until the engine is warm, with a partial choke application, just enough to allow some acceleration.
This is not advised by the manufacturer of the bike.
Once warm, bump the rest of the choke off.
This is not recommended by Honda. Honda designed everything carefully so that the rider can have
both hands at the bars at
all times. There isn't a single action that requires to take a hand of the bars. Honda was much praised for that. If Honda would have wanted you to play the choke en route, they definitely would have placed the lever in a more convenient location than somewhere down below your thigh, where you have to look for it by groping and run the risk to loose balance and even develop a tank slapper. Moreover, not being able to
see the choke lever, you run the risk to
forget the choke. Not good for your engine. So to go riding with that chokelever still partially engaged, is bad advice. On the later CB550 models with the fast cam Honda fitted the choke knob at the handlebar, in the line of sight of the rider. I suppose by then Honda had a good reason for this.
While riding you can hold the throttle in any position to keep the RPM in a running range.
Yes sir, you are right here and that's what Honda recommends.
I suit up for the ride, jump on, apply choke, start , remove some choke and drive off. Depending on temps the choke gets removes at a stop sign or light a couple blocks latter.
Rest of commute the choke and low throttle position can be ignored to focus on traffic avoidance. Did this routinely for 20 years on the 74 CB550.
I did it my way which is Honda's for 39 years. Sometimes I take the liberty to use the idle adjust screw to raise the idle and then simply screw back that adjuster at the first traffic light that I
know will be on my way
at forehand. There's no way I'll forget this, the raised rpm will tell me. This in contrast with a still on chokelever which you will
not hear and
neither is in your line of sight... There's a risk you forget the choke is still on and that you will be washing the oil of the cylinder walls...
