What that white bike (1966 R27) has is called an Earles Fork (named for its British inventor) which is basically a swing-arm with hydraulic shocks. Sort of a rear suspension used on the front. Sometimes referred to as a leading-link, this was the common fork on BMW and Douglas motorcycles.
". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers