+1 for ABS unit.
Where are you based? Maybe someone could offer a second opinion.
I'd be happy to have a look if you are within 100 miles of Newport.

When I bought mine it was on a whim. I had gone to buy a Tracer and had all but forgotten about the existence of the fazer 8.
I had always liked it aesthetically speaking as it stood out from the other fazers (600 and 1000) and from the then current crop of bikes that were on the market.
As for it being quiet in the 800 section I prefer to see that as a positive. To me it means that people aren't on here every five minutes looking for solutions to problems.
On the topic of problems, I tend to see most problems with any bike I have due to the mileage I cover (20000 pa) and the only maintenance cost has been a new starter relay £6, new front wheel bearings £8 and the 24000 mile top end service £250.
Granted I've spent £1500 on other things but they were just for personal preference and detailing.
Do I have anything bad to say about the bike, well realistically no. I commute 100 miles/day, motorway, A and B roads and ride for pleasure on weekends and have no problem covering 400 miles/day without complaint.
It's torquey enough, fast enough, can filter through city traffic with ease and can tear up the mountain roads in Wales. I can see why these bikes didn't sell when they were out especially at the asking price at the time but I'm willing to bet that with a bit of tweaking they would sell like hotcakes now.

Depends on how you wash your bike I guess.
It leaves a slightly waxy coating on everything, if this doesn't bother you then coat everything apart from the seat and grips and brake discs.
The idea is that you don't wash the bike too often through out the winter so that the protective layer stays in place.

Finally got around to replacing the front wheel bearings and stripping and cleaning the rear caliper. New rear pads, bearings and tyre next weekend.

I went the other way on my 800. I ditched the R&G and put the original back on as I think it looks better.

I had been riding tdm900's for 15 yrs and when thinking of a replacement I test rode the MT. The engine is a dream but like all yams the suspension is seriously lacking,  first job would have been to replace the rear shock cos it's way too soft and under damped and resprung and re valves the front.
When I walked into the dealers to buy one the fazer 8 was sat there and I couldn't resist it and as it was 2000 gbp cheaper than the MT that covered the cost of upgrading the suspension on it.

Oem pads are never going to be as good as after market ones.
There might be something else at work here though, on my 800 I find the inner pistons tend to get sticky and causes the outer pads too wear quicker, when the lever gets spongy I whip the pads out and give the pistons a clean and the brakes are greatly improved for another six weeks.

It does look nice but there are some very big gaps in it, particularly in the tuning fork logo, for stones to get through and damage the radiator.

True, but I only made it for the aesthetics.
As standard there is nothing at all protecting the radiator so I had nothing to lose.

What a load of old rubbish.
Makes you realise how lucky we still are here in the UK.
So long as the lights work and it stops you can pretty much do what ever mods you want without type approval requirements.

No problem.
If you continue to struggle with low speed maneuvering the offer is always open.
Edit
Just a thought, if you rode your bike to the wedding you could pop over or I could meet you somewhere in Sunday on your way home as you'll be passing by my place.

Poorly tensioned chain could also cause low speed control issues.
Where are you based?