Remembering The 1957 Adler ISDT
Classic motorcycle enthusiasts are not likely to remember the bikes from the 1950s era but they may recall stories from their parents or grandparents and recall going for rides on the carefully preserved treasures from the past. The 1957 Adler ISDT is a vintage motorcycle that turned 65 years old as of 2022. There may be a few who are nearing their centurion years who purchased a model in new condition from a dealership. It’s a bike with a rich history that deserves its place in the record books for its innovations and popularity. Here’s remembering the 1957 Adler ISDT with fondness with an overview of Adler and how the 1957 ISDT earned its place in history.
The history of Adler
According to Wikipedia, Adler was a German automotive manufacturer that launched its automobile and motorcycle plant in 1900. The versatile factory also produced bicycles, calculators, and typewriters. Its initial focus was on cars, but it dropped the production of automobiles after World War II and focused on the production of motorcycles in 1949. Their production run was short-lived as the company would file for bankruptcy in 1957 with reparations for war activities resulting in Britain acquiring Adler motorcycle designs and Grundig taking over the company in 1957. the 1957 ISDT was its last production model before the company ceased to exist under its original ownership. the company changed hands multiple times with Adlerwerke a publicly-traded company and its historical factory was sold to a construction company, then discontinued in 1998 from its sole surviving typewriter production activities. The name of the publicly traded company was changed to Adler Real Estate in the early 2000s and it has converted to the development of real estate since that time.
The end of an era
The 1957 Adler ISDT marked the end of an era for the German motorcycle manufacturer. It is the last model produced by the business with one more model year making it through to marketing before its shutdown due to fallout from World War II. It’s unknown how many models were distributed before the closure of its automotive plant, but the bike is considered a rare find, and a collectible by vintage bike enthusiasts.
Remembering the Adler ISDT
A few owners report that the Adler ISDT was a small-bore motorcycle that was best for every day commuting to work or school and back. It may not be a noteworthy design by today’s standards, but in the 1950s it was a reliable source of transportation. Adler designed the bike from top to bottom. It featured a two-cylinder, 247cc, air-cooled two-stroke engine. It generated a maximum output of 18 horsepower. The engine was matched with a four-speed manual transmission. Riders in the 1950s enjoyed the plunger shock absorbers. It was an attractive bike with full fenders, a large headlamp for lighting the road at night, attractive laced wheels, and an exhaust system mounted under the seat. It was a single-seat with a spring design that worked best for a solo rider. The fuel tank holds 3.2 gallons of gas.
More specs for the 1957 Adler ISDT
Motorcycle Specifications explains that the two-stroke engine featured flat-crowned pistons with a 54 x 54 mm bore x stroke requiring lubrication of a mix of petrol and oil in a 25:1 ratio, and a compression ratio of 1:6:6. Adler equipped it with a multi-plate clutch in an oil bath with a kickstart design. It came with a 6-volt battery with a battery and coil ignition set, a single Bing carburetor, and a twin steel exhaust system in chrome. The final drive featured a fully enclosed chain. the 4-speed transmission was housed in the engine block with a foot gear change. Although the single spring seat was intended for a single rider, the double tubular frame came with a sidecar adapter. Sidecars were popular with the German military and public for adding passenger capacity to their motorcycles. The front suspension was equipped with twin swinging leading link forks, a steering damper, and a shock absorber to create a smoother and safer ride. Plunger shock absorbers were fit into the rear suspension with adjustable features for road conditions and compensations for the load. it was an innovative design for the 1950s era. The bike came from the factory with 3.25 x 16-inch tires in the front and the rear with 180 mm diameter drum brakes in the front and the rear.
Ratings of the 1957 Adler ISDT
Owners of the 1957-1958 model of the Adler ISDT gave their honest opinions of the reliability, design, performance, racing capabilities, touring capabilities, and other notable features of the motorcycle. The 1957 Adler ISDT is a rare motorcycle. Because of this, just two respondents reviewed the ISDT. All of the comments were favorable, given its age and limitations. The engine performance gets a six out of ten rating with enough power to suit the purpose of commuting for short distances. The motorcycle provides reliable and trouble-free driving with a fun factor that ranks six out of ten. The repair and maintenance costs are reasonable. It’s not difficult to maintain the bike and keep it in safe running condition. It’s a good value for the price. It offers decent offroad capabilities considering its age. It’s also a bike you can take to the racing track for vintage bike competitions. The ISDT gets a six out of ten for touring capabilities giving it an above-average rating across the board.
Final thoughts
The 1957 Adler ISDT is a motorcycle that earned its place in history as the last model to roll off the lines of a prominent manufacturer in Germany. Penalties from events of World War II took a toll on many German manufacturers, and Adler was among them. The multifaceted automotive, calculator, and typewriter company eventually evolved into a real estate project, although it still exists, in some form. It resumed production of motorcycles from 1949 through 1957, when the last model rolled off of production lines, making the 1957 Adler ISDT a rare collectible and historically significant motorcycle.