Mechanism for transfix member with idle movement

A printer includes an idler movement mechanism that rotates a transfix member at a speed corresponding to a rotational speed for a rotating image member before moving the transfix member into engagement with the rotating image member to form a nip. The printer includes a rotating image member for receiving colorant from a print head to form an image on the rotating image member, a motor having rotational output that is coupled to the rotating image member for rotating the rotating image member at a first surface speed, a transfix member for forming a nip with the intermediate print member to transfer the image from the intermediate print member to media in the nip, the transfix member being moveable from a first position, in which the transfix member does not form a nip with the intermediate print member, to a second position, in which the transfix member forms the nip with the intermediate print member, and a rotational transfer link for coupling the transfix member in the first position to the rotation of the rotating image member so the transfix member rotates at a second surface speed that corresponds with the first surface speed as the transfix member is moved to the second position to form the nip with the rotating image member rotating at the first surface speed.