Front shocks do add weight, but not that much. This isn't a road race bike but an all rounder. I have a Schwinn Trailway with the front shock and I like it. My town has lots of rain gutters in the road and that front shock sure is nice at keeping the jolts from hitting the hands and shoulders hard. Some of the Schwinns aren't bad bikes at all and they are inexpensive. My Trailway handles packed gravel and hard dirt just fine.