Aloyzius,
The front rack is a Delta Shock Treatment rack. I purchased it from Nashbar for around $45. It attaches to the arms of the fork with a clamp and then attaches to the brake bosses. So it stays in the same position relative to the wheel and tire, regardless of what your shock does. I have no complaints about it. The rear rack is an Ascent or something like that and I paid about $20 for it.

Yes it is an aluminum frame. I don't notice a lot of "harshness" in the ride anymore, I give credit to a broken in B-17 for that.