I changed the belt on my '99 after 13 years and 56k miles. It looked good, but I did it anyway. I accepted a pattern part from the well known UK supplier of Honda spares. It turned out to be a Gates belt packaged in a Triumph wrapper!
No-one mentioned any changes/improvements after a belt change - but my bike tickover was much smoother and more regular after - something I hadn't been able to fix by balancing the carbs. I had checked for perfect belt alignment, before taking the old one off. I hadn't realised that the tensioner is 'locked off' after belt installation. - Perhaps there was a bit of stretch?
I also trimmed the plastic inspection plate to enable easy assembly without removing the clutch cover.
Other things done at the same time were the valve checks (all good) and I fixed a small oil leak from a cam cover with some goo from a tube, plus a coolant change, etc etc. The only difficulty was refitting the top hose and getting away from a neighbour whose 3/8" socket I'd borrowed..... (More tea?
I can't understand anyone having 'difficulty' removing/fitting the fairing parts, but then I have had the bike a long time.