Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1345276
36 Trail Rider Having the ability to increase pressures on high speed sec ons would certainly be a bonus. Anoth- er innova ve and noteworthy component included on the ISDT models is the dual igni on system. Yes, two completely separate magneto igni ons. This system consisted of two sets of points, two individ- ual coils and a cylinder head fi ed with two spark plugs, one in the center, one right of center. There is a switch located on the right side of the bike, just below the seat where the rider can swap on the fly from one system to the other. Also of inter- est is that the carburetor and airbox are protected from mud and water by a vinyl shroud that wraps around the frame tubes. Crowning the theme of protec on is a fully enclosed chain and sprockets. Remember, this bike was designed long before O-ring chains. As a lifeline to forward mo on, chain maintenance was constant during grueling events such as enduros and Six Day compe on. I'm sure elimina ng or reducing me maintaining drive components, along with fuel and igni on sys- tem issues was a key component in MZ's successes in ISDT compe on. As for this par cular MZ 250 ISDT, sadly it nev- er saw any compe on or much actual use for that ma er. From what we understand, a limited number of ISDT replicas were imported to the U.S., but by the me they arrived, there was li le interest. Remember, off-road motorcycles were evolving at an alarming rate during the mid-70s, and MZ wasn't a household name here in the states. This bike in par cular had been buried in a warehouse for decades. Years later it was purchased by my dear departed friend Howard. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to wake it up for his family and enjoy it for a few months. Incredibly, I didn't spend much me waking up this old ride. My goal was to get it running and see what we had to work with from there. Con- structed of fine East German metals, there was li le corrosion. Cas ngs are all constructed of aluminum so there was no magnesium rot. The original res s ll held air and weren't cracked or dry ro ed; even the rubber gaiters enclosing the chain weren't split.