Motorcycle Repair: 1981 CBX idle speed, flat screwdriver, manual states

Question
Jan--what rpm should it be set at & how difficult is to adjust?

Answer
Actually the manual states the idle speed should be 900 +/- 100 rpm.  So between 800 to 1000 rpm.  The bike needs to be in very good order to idle smoothly at 800rpm, but most are happy at 1000.  It is actually very easy to adjust, if you look from the right side of the engine above the carbs on the air filter side you will see a rather large knurled screw with a flat groove in it.  Basically it is just below the gas tank and above the polished carb tops. If you have small hands you can get one finger on the adjustment.  Typically it will need a little effort to get it moving, but once free the adjustment is easily done with a large flat screwdriver, clockwise to increase the speed and counter clockwise to decrease it.  Make sure the choke is completely off before adjusting, as it overrides the idle adjustment.

Good luck,  Jan