If you raise the front forks two inches and install a 19 inch tire, the front is up three inches. To the suggestion of upside-down forks and better brakes, sweet stuff, but you are into four figures before that mod is finished. You would have to custom CNC-fab a triple tree. Hell, just steal the front end off of a KTM 990 SM-T. To lipsee I would suggest that the ride does not "suck" because of the small front wheel or a lack of suspension travel. Nearly six inches of travel is above average and 17 inch front wheels are the majority. The problem is in the fork valving.
However, before I put the RaceTech kit and Ohlins on my bike, I considered adding two inches front and rear to the bike with longer fork tubes and a combination of longer shock and shorter rear suspension links. This would have given more travel and ground clearance without changing the suspension geometry - similar to the difference between a BMW GS and a GS Adventure. I finally gave up on it as not necessary for my intended use of the bike.
I would agree that raising the front alone would slow the handling unacceptably. Be prepared to lengthen your center and side-stands.
However, before I put the RaceTech kit and Ohlins on my bike, I considered adding two inches front and rear to the bike with longer fork tubes and a combination of longer shock and shorter rear suspension links. This would have given more travel and ground clearance without changing the suspension geometry - similar to the difference between a BMW GS and a GS Adventure. I finally gave up on it as not necessary for my intended use of the bike.
I would agree that raising the front alone would slow the handling unacceptably. Be prepared to lengthen your center and side-stands.