Mystery O-Rings on front forks

[Sdscalia]

Today I noticed a mystery O-Ring on both sides of my front fork. Anyone know what it's purpose is? 

[twotigers]

Unless it's something that's come loose from the seals, I would imagine it's just like putting a tie wrap round the fork leg to monitor the fork dive / fork usage for any preloading etc..

[Nickcv]

As mentioned above they may be an indicator of the fork travel. I have Nitron fork cartridges fitted and they are supplied with an indicator.

[Robbo_660]

Unless we're all running around with them on the forks and have never noticed, surely its got to have come off the firk seals ? Another one to go see whats on my bike

[Sdscalia]

I transported my bike about 1500 miles in the back of my Jeep Gladiator utilizing Rhino ratchet straps attached to the triple tree. I ratcheted the tension down very tight. Maybe too tight now that I'm looking back at the situation. When I got home, I rode my bike and noticed that when I stopped at traffic lights, I could push the handlebars down and cause the front suspension to go down with much less effort than before the long trip. However, I didn't notice any sign of oil on the forks or in the bed of the Jeep. I'm thinking I must have blown the seals but then where's the oil?

[Sdscalia]

Mystery solved. Apparently the mystery O-Rings are part of the Dust Seals on the outer tubes of the shocks. Their purpose is to secure the rubber Dust Seals onto the outer tubes as the shocks move up and down.