old biker but new to 1999 VFR -- yellow of course

Wow, I think you're over-thinking this one. I use the fast idle lever only when the engine is starting from cold and then wind it back to get a nice steady 2000 rpm while I get my gloves and lid on. After that, lever off and start riding.

The lever operates a plate which lifts/opens the four starter valves, and it is these which you use to synchronise the 4 intakes. The idle adjuster screw also bears on the starter valve plate.

The starter valves act as little air bypasses around the butterflies, and in addition to their cold-start fast idle function, you can adjust three of them against the fixed 4th one to get the desired intake vacuum. If you get to do this, you should note that the 5th gen instructions call for an offset between the fixed starter and two of the others (3 and 4 from memory) so they're not all set to the same vacuum, as you would do for an in-line four. The vacuum gauges get connected to the 4 small hoses that are parked on stubs either side of the airbox, the starter valves can be adjusted with a spanner with the tank raised.

 

With respect to shifting, the correct chain setting is key, as soon as you feel the shifts getting notchy check for excessive slack in drive chain.

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I need to do some youtubing. I am very curious what the various exhausts for my bike sound like, especially compared to my Two Brothers exhaust.