Tickover

Yes.

You can set the tick over at full retard but you will find it is revving a bit too fast when advanced again. This can make it difficult to get into 1st gear and mean slipping the clutch more at slow riding. Unless you are someone who likes playing with the lever, I advance the ignition and leave it there when riding, unless going very slow or stopped for a long time. I would get it to a comfortable tick over on full advance but not too slow, then if you stop you can retard it a bit.

Hmm, not the way I do it, but then again it's whatever suits you.I always go for a good slow tickover on full retard and use the advance/retard lever as intended. A painif you don't like doing that sort of thing which is why auto-advances were invented. Of course with an auto advance, you set tickover on full retard.

The pre-war Instruction Manual when dealing with "Pilot or Slow Running Adjustment" refers to setting magneto at half advance and throttle 1/8" open. It then goes on to state "If it is desired that the engine should continue 'idling' with the throttle lever closed, the position of the throttle valve must be set by means of the throttle stop screw..." They don't mention altering the ignition timing.

It would seem that a tickover on the stop screw was not always a desired factor in the 1930s (but I have the impression that most did not have the grip set to snap shut).

Actually, even into the 1940s they still refer to the throttle 'lever', apparently having forgotten that they'd changed to twistgrips

Tha manual's advice on use of the A/R control is that it only needs using below 25 mph on hills or if pinking. In practice, on high octane fuel, a 16H doesn't often pink and there is little to be gained by using the control, especially as a retarded engine will run hotter. A 16H is not so finicky that it requires the juggling of A/R and throttle in order to accelerate under normal conditions.