Is it time for a "Suspension" sub-forum?

I'm a new FVR rider who's recently begun riding a new 2007 VFR800A. While I'm quite pleased overall with this venerable motorcycle, I must say that I have growing concerns about the bike's stock, front and rear suspension.

For many weeks now I've been searching and carefully combing through VFRWorld's multitude of threads and discussions regarding the VFR's stock suspension, and much of what I've read here is rather worrisome. (More on this in a moment.)

Indeed, the VFR's stock suspension may currently be it's Achilles' Heel. Unfortunately, because VFRWorld doesn't currently include a "Suspension" sub-forum, the many threads and discussions pertaining to the VFR's stock suspension are widely scattered across several forums and rather generalized sub-forums.

Currently, there is no sub-forum dedicated to suspension issues, and I strongly feel that VFRWorld's administrators, moderators, senior members, and all of us other members would do well to consider creating a Suspension sub-forum that would provide a much needed, centralized, easily accessible, and ever expanding database for those of us seeking information and advice concerning questions, concerns, experiences, and various creative solutions regarding the VFR's stock suspension.

To that end, I would like to suggest that VFRWorld's administrators consider my idea of creating a Suspension sub-forum by first posing it in the form of a ranking poll in which all members and visitors are asked to cast their votes.

OK, that said, here's what I've gleaned so far after slogging through a multitiude of threads/complaints here at VFRWorld concerning the bike's stock suspension (and I'm paraphrasing here):

1) The VFR is a Japanese motorcycle designed to accomodate a single rider weighing only a mere ~160-170 lbs.

2) Many respondants complain that overall, the VFR's stock suspension really "sucks", and that this is particularly inexcusable and irksome given (a) the price tag of the VFR, which Honda markets and promotes as being a sport-touring motorcycle; (b) that Honda, a world-class manufacturer of many of the finest motorcycles, really keeps dropping the ball when it comes to continuously refining and updating the VFR's stock suspension to meet the demands of an ever more competitive market.

3) Many respondants who've resigned themselves to living with the shortcomings of the VFR's stock suspension recommend cranking the front and rear suspension to their stiffest settings, and even then, many claim that the results are still disappointing. This situation is all the more worrisome when one wishes to ride 2-up, especially with loaded side-cases and top-case installed on the motorcycle.

4) The front fork's valve apertures are too narrow; the front fork's springs are too weak, and the front forks have no rebound-damping adjustments.

5) Many respondants report that only after totally overhauling the VFR's front and rear suspension (at a considerable expense) does the motorcycle then ride, handle, and perform like a world-class machine. These modifications include such things as various Race Tech Gold Valve kits, fork springs, inner and outer fork bushings, cartridge emulators. etc. Then there's various rear suspension shock springs and kits, as well as more elaborate and expensive rear suspension products from Penske, Ohlin, etc.

As a new FVR owner, all of this information is rather mind-numbing, and as a member of FVRWorld, I will again say that I think this web site would do well to not only soon create a VFR Suspension forum, but also to first introduce this new sub-forum with one or more introductory articles from resident suspension experts who would begin to take the mystery out of, and begin to simplify this issue of how to best begin modifying the VFR's stock suspension.

Thanks for listening!

Kurt