. . . So come on let me tap in to this font of experience...

I've used E41 Monokey panniers and E450 top box on a wingrack fitted to an FZS600 - toured heavily loaded without issues.
 
Not got around to getting a fitting kit for my 1000 but ithe wingrack is a very sturdy arrangement.
 
I've got a standard givi top box rack on the 1000 at present for the topbox and the alternative is to add the pannier rails to this rack. Probably not as solid as the wingrack but I wouldn't have any qualms going this route.
 
I think all the quoted weight limitations are very conservative - just normal a**e covering if you ask me.

If you are refering to the square headlight model as a Mk I then this colour blue is correct for the later versions.
 
Over a period of time several updates were made to the Mk I including revised clocks, painted fork legs, fork pre-load adjustment and a larger tank.
 
My first Fazer a 2001 was one of the last Mk I in this colur blue with all these enhancements.

On my old FZS600 I 'made' some mirrors including indicators.
 
I used the original mirrors and cut holes in the back to accomodate some side indicator repeaters from a car. The old 600 mirrors were good for this because the rubber gaitor ran all the way up the mirror stem which allowed you to conceal the wires running from the fairing indicators.
 
The end result was actually quite good.

Check out ctek. They do a whole range.
 
Mine is an older model than the current range but has performed faultlessly on car and bike. Much superior to the Oxford/Optimate types I've had previously.

I've had 2 600s (square-eye and then a foxeye) prior to my current Gen1 thou and they are fantastic allrounders - I commute, play at weekends and have toured in Europe. On the demise of my second I would have happily had a third - I've never got on with the FZ6.
 
But even the last of the FZS600s was getting on a bit and the lure of a thou a couple of years younger was just too great, particularly at the bargain prices they were available at. To date I've not regretted it - the thou does everything the 600 does and it's just that bit more relaxed and comfortable for longer distances and also built better, and of course goes like stink.
 
The only down side is that mooted in this thread - you just don't get as much opportunity to wring the 1000's neck like you could the 600 because it is just so damn fast and because of this it can seem like a bit less fun.

It's worth persevering with contact lenses if there is any chance you can eventually get on with them.
 
I wear day/night soft contact lenses. You put 'em in and wear permanently for a month - then change.
 
Because you are not handling them daily removing and cleaning etc. they don't need to be very robust. Hence they are very thin which makes them comfortable and also very gas permeable.
 
In fact the reason my optician moved me onto these was because I was wearing normal daily lenses for too long each day and my eyes were suffering from oxygen depletion. So ironically the solution was to wear lenses permanently !
 
I find I generally forget all about them and just spend one night each month at changeover time without them to give my eyes a short respite. On very rare occasions, if my eyes have got particularly dry or tired, I may take them out overnight for a rest but I can't remember the last time I felt the need to do this.
 
On a slightly different tack whilst we are talking about lenses I have a different prescription for each eye. Previously my lenses corrected short sightedness and I had to additionally wear glasses for reading. Now my left lens is targeted for reading and my right lens for distance. Don't ask me how this works but apparently when you get used to it your brain sorts it out. Not all people are suitable for this approach (depending on prescription) and not everybody adapts well to it but its great for me - no more glasses needed and my overall vision is very good.

The rear bulbs used to blow regularly on my FZS600 so I went to a Nooj LED rear unit which was excellent.
 
However I've had no trouble on my thou and the rear light seems bright enough so no reason to change. I have gone to LED front sidelights and indicators though mainly for aesthetic reasons, although the Oberon indicators I have are also 'double sided' which I suppose increase visibility and hence safety.

On my regular work commute I was progressing straight on at a roundabout on a dual carriageway at a reasonable pace only to be confronted by a woman in a car who had come from the opposite direction and decided to turn right at the roundabout by the anti-clockwise short route!
 
Beggars belief - I was just thankful I managed to avoid her

Wow that is a bit of a heart stopper.
 
Very well done on your solution to a potentially tricky situation.
 
The force was obviously with you 

test

I have one of these and can testify that it's an excellent piece of kit.

I've used Hein Gericke Gore-Tex gear for a couple of years now. Not the cheapest but totally waterproof, hard wearing and very well designed.

has the Strike affected anyone today?
 

Yes - a lot less traffic on the roads this morning