What are they???

Hello,  I just started riding a sport bike (been on cruisers all my life and got bored) I noticed on some of the race pictures that some of the bikes seem to have a little shock absorber behind or beside the front forks.  What is this? I've tried to search for a description but to no avail.  Thanks.  

You're probably referring to the Ohlins FGR900 fork:



The cylinder behind the axle carrier is the gas reservoir. It contains highly pressurized nitrogen gas that keeps the oil in the damping cartridge under pressure, which reduces the possibility of cavitation as the piston moves through the oil and results in more consistent damping performance.  

No that's not it, I wish I could post a picture, but it is real skinny and looks like it goes right beside the forks (Maybe even connected to the brake calipers, but it is not the hose because I can see the brake hoses as well.) and travels up into the chassis just like the front shocks (forks) It looks just like the front forks only about 5 times skinnier.  I have a picture that I got from this site's wallpaper area (146_1006_01+2010_isle_of_man_tt_cameron_donald+.jpg) It is of a Britt jumping a Suzuki through the air. It has what looks like a blue upper housing and of course a chrome piston. I am perplexed.  Thanks for any help.  

OK, I see what you were referring to. That blue-colored device directly behind the fork leg is the telescoping datalogging sensor for front fork travel:



This allows the team to determine exactly how the fork was working during the practice/race session. A similar sensor is used for the rear shock.  

That's freekin' awesome, Thanks