PONY

Pony mopeds - Swiss cultural heritage on two wheels

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The mopeds from Feuerthalen with the emblem of the lively little horse have been part of the typical Swiss street scene since the 1960s. Even if the two-wheelers have become somewhat rarer in recent years, Pony mopeds are still being built today, while Puch, Piaggio and other renowned manufacturers have long since ceased production. Let us take a closer look at this somewhat different and unusual manufacturer.

Seat
flag_swissSwitzerland, Feuerthalen
Status
Active
Foundation1961
logo_pony-mk1

Swissness at its best

Swiss knives, Swiss watches and Swiss tools are synonymous worldwide with unique quality, maximum precision and indestructible durability. The last point in particular also applies to the Swiss moped manufacturer Amsler & Co. From 1961 to the present day, mopeds have been built at the company headquarters in Feuerthalen using genuine craftsmanship. A specific calmness and impressive continuity are also reflected in the model range. The mopeds sold under the Pony Motos brand have only been available in two model variants since the start of production: the Pony Cross moped and the Pony GTX moped. These models have been built in almost unchanged form since the start of production. But for all its tranquillity, the moped manufacturer Amsler & Co has a long and rather eventful company history, which tells a lot about iron willpower, Swiss engineering skills and the little guy standing up to the big guy.

swiing® revival bearing press-on sleeve | Puch, Sachs

For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Solex · Tomos · Cilo

11567

swiing® revival bearing press-on sleeve | Puch, Sachs

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Nominal diameter inside: 17.5 mm · Total length: 86 mm · Ø inside: 17.6 mm · Ø outside: 25 mm

29,00 EUR

swiing® revival nut M11x1 x 4 SW19 wheel nut galvanized

For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

11094

swiing® revival nut M11x1 x 4 SW19 wheel nut galvanized

Height: 4 mm · Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Nut type: Hexagon flat nut · Thread type: MF11x1 (fine pitch thread) · Drive: External hexagon · Width across flats: 19 mm · Strength class: 8

3,40 EUR

Inox
swiing® revival speedometer disk (instead of speedometer drive) Inox

For: Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Zündapp Belmondo

10349

swiing® revival speedometer disk (instead of speedometer drive) Inox

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Color: Chrome · Material: Chrome steel (known as Nirosta®) · Ø axle: 12 mm · Ø outside: 47 mm · Ø mounting hole: 12 mm · Total height: 12 mm

6,90 EUR

Mitas 2.75 x 17" tires B7 Allround whitewall
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Bye Bike

11312

Mitas 2.75 x 17" tires B7 Allround whitewall

Manufacturer: Mitas · Tire width: 2.75 " · Tire width [mm]: 70 · Color: black · Color: white · Width: 2 3/4 " · Speed index: J = 100 km/h · Wheel size: 17 " · Load capacity index: 47 = 175 kg · Profile type: B7 · Tire type: Allround · Old designation: 21 x 2.75 " · White wall: Yes · Tubeless (yes/no): Tubeless TL (tubeless insert) · Tubeless (yes/no): Tubetype TT (requires hose)

90,80 EUR

KMC pedal chain blue
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Zündapp Belmondo · Solex · Alpa Chopper / Turbo · Cilo

11743

KMC pedal chain blue

Chain pitch: 1/2" x 1/8" · Chain type: 410 · Manufacturer: KMC · Material: Steel · Surface: varnished · Color: blue · Number of chain links: 112 pcs · Rolling circumference: 1422 mm · Chain lock type: Snap-on closure

22,00 EUR

swiing® revival brake lever rear wheel cranked | Sachs

For: Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

12013

swiing® revival brake lever rear wheel cranked | Sachs

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Total length: 70 mm · Thickness: 4 mm

13,90 EUR

Pony Crest Tank Sachs Ø 48 mm

For: Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

11991

Pony Crest Tank Sachs Ø 48 mm

Place of use: Tank (+ frame) · Material: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) · Rear side texture: Adhesive · Consistency: UV-resistant · Consistency: petrol resistant · Diameter: 48 mm

11,50 EUR

TAYA pedal chain non-rusting
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Zündapp Belmondo · Solex · Alpa Chopper / Turbo · Cilo

10993

TAYA pedal chain non-rusting

Chain pitch: 1/2" x 1/8" · Chain type: 410 · Manufacturer: TAYA · Material: Steel · Surface: stainless · Color: gray · Number of chain links: 112 pcs · Rolling circumference: 1422 mm · Chain lock type: Spring lock

11,50 EUR

swiing® revival nozzle set M5 (70 - 92) Dell'Orto SHA, PHBG

For: Universal · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

10902

swiing® revival nozzle set M5 (70 - 92) Dell'Orto SHA, PHBG

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Total length: 8 mm · Material: Brass · Quantity: 10 pcs · Component group Carburetor: Spraying · Carburetor type: PHBG · Carburetor type: SHA · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio) · Nozzle type: Main nozzle · Drive: Slot · Nozzle thread: M5x0.8 (standard thread) · Nozzle size: 70 · Nozzle size: 72 · Nozzle size: 75 · Nozzle size: 78 · Nozzle size: 80 · Nozzle size: 82 · Nozzle size: 85 · Nozzle size: 88 · Nozzle size: 90 · Nozzle size: 92

24,40 EUR

Starter lever Magura replica
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

10936

Starter lever Magura replica

Manufacturer: Made in Portugal · Surface: raw · Color: black · Total length: 90 mm · Thickness: 4.1 mm · Thickness: 12.5 mm · Place of use: left

6,90 EUR

Nos
Grease nipple pedal axle red
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

11845

Grease nipple pedal axle red

Manufacturer: Puch · Material: Plastic · Color: red · Total length: 12.8 mm · Ø Bundle: 8.4 mm · Ø inside: 4.2 mm · Ø outside: 6.4 mm

6,90 EUR

Inox
License plate holder (with frame) Inox (CH version)
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Zündapp Belmondo · Solex · Tomos · Bye Bike · Alpa Chopper / Turbo · Cilo · DKW · Fantic · Garelli · Honda · Hercules · ILO / JLO · Kreidler · Malaguti · MBK / Motobécane · Miele · --- PLEASE USE --- · Monark · Peugeot · Victoria · Yamaha · Zündapp · Franco Morini · KTM

10837

License plate holder (with frame) Inox (CH version)

Manufacturer: Made in Switzerland · Material: Chrome steel (known as Nirosta®) · Total length: 143 mm · Color: silver · Mounting type: Nuts & bolts · Number of fixing points: 3 pcs · Ø mounting hole: 5 mm · Width: 103 mm · Height: 7 mm

15,70 EUR

GPO wheel clamp large
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For: Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Zündapp Belmondo · Bye Bike

12372

GPO wheel clamp large

Ø inside: 12.8 mm · Manufacturer: GPO · Ø outside: 30 mm · Total length: 76 mm · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Thread type: M6x1 (standard thread) · Thread length: 31.5 mm

2,80 EUR

Not so nice Not so nice
Fortune 2.00 x 17" tires F-874 2.P.R. Allround
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Zündapp

12121

Fortune 2.00 x 17" tires F-874 2.P.R. Allround

Manufacturer: Fortune · Tire width: 2 " · Width: 2 " · Color: black · Load capacity index: 25 = 92.5 kg · Profile type: F-874 2.P.R. · Tire type: Allround · Old designation: 21 x 2 " · White wall: No · Wheel size: 17 " · Tubeless (yes/no): Tubetype TT (requires hose)

33,20 EUR

Main stand | Pony / KTM GTX 503
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For: Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

12117

Main stand | Pony / KTM GTX 503

Manufacturer: Made in Switzerland · Material: Steel · Surface: chrome-plated · Color: Chrome · Stand base - center mount (A): 217 mm · Total width of stand base (B): 230 mm · Wide receptacle (C): 62.5 mm · Ø Receptacle (D): 8.1 mm · Spring nipple distance - center pivot axis (E): 95 mm · Wide upright foot (F): 30 mm · Total height: 245 mm

115,30 EUR

swiing® revival nozzle set M5 (50 - 70) Dell'Orto SHA, PHBG

For: Universal · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

12179

swiing® revival nozzle set M5 (50 - 70) Dell'Orto SHA, PHBG

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Brass · Component group Carburetor: Spraying · Quantity: 10 pcs · Carburetor type: PHBG · Carburetor type: SHA · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio) · Nozzle type: Main nozzle · Drive: Slot · Total length: 8 mm · Nozzle thread: M5x0.8 (standard thread) · Nozzle size: 50 · Nozzle size: 52 · Nozzle size: 55 · Nozzle size: 58 · Nozzle size: 60 · Nozzle size: 62 · Nozzle size: 64 · Nozzle size: 66 · Nozzle size: 68 · Nozzle size: 70

24,40 EUR

Page 1 of 70

Wayward company foundation

The former company founder Carl Theodor Amsler was born in 1825 as the son of a doctor in the Swiss town of Schinznach. After finishing school, the young Carl Theodor emigrated to America and founded his first company there, which manufactured optical and mathematical instruments. His company is successful and expands, and it seems as if Carl Theodor Amsler is experiencing the proverbial American Dream. But fate had a different plan in store for him and struck mercilessly. His factory in Philadelphia is completely destroyed in a devastating fire, Carl Theodor Amsler loses almost his entire fortune trying to rebuild it and returns to his old home almost penniless. But even though his first factory was destroyed in the flames, his entrepreneurial spirit and proverbial Swiss tenacity remained unbroken.

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New start and entry into the bicycle business

In 1865, he embarked on a new endeavour and founded a factory for fire extinguishers on the site of today's moped forge in Feuerthalen. Business was good again. Amsler & Co therefore begins to look for new business areas and expands its product range. As a result, Amsler was already travelling on two wheels by 1890, when the company entered the bicycle component business. Around 1900, the first contact was made with a German entrepreneur whose name is certainly recognised by every moped enthusiast: Ernst Sachs. The connection between Sachs and Amsler & Co, which began here, lasted for many years. It was not for nothing that the Pony-Cross mopeds and Pony-GTX mopeds were fitted with Sachs 503 engines at the factory in the 1960s. But more on that later. The company negotiated skilfully in 1903 and secured exclusive distribution for the ‘Torpedo freewheel hub’, a Sachs patent, for Switzerland. This rear wheel hub was a real bestseller and a veritable goldmine for the company from Feuerthalen. As a result of this first co-operation with Sachs, Amsler focused exclusively on the production and sale of bicycle components. However, business success did not always favour the company in the difficult 1930s and 1940s. In the period up to the end of the Second World War, Swiss bicycle manufacturers also had to overcome hard times. However, it is clear from the company's history that consistency, perseverance and tenacity were part of the DNA of the later moped manufacturer. This is how the company survived even these economically difficult decades.

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Mopeds are finally being built

From the 1950s onwards, the manufacturer returned to calmer waters and prospered. When the moped was about to start its triumphal march on Swiss roads, the future moped manufacturer reacted with lightning speed. In 1961, as soon as the motorbike class was officially approved in Swiss road traffic law, Feuerthalen was also at the starting line with pony mopeds. This early launch of the Pony mopeds proved to be a decisive advantage over the tough and actually overpowering competition from foreign moped manufacturers such as Piaggio, Puch and Tomos. The Swiss market was highly competitive during the onset of the moped boom in the 1960s, but as the Pony mopeds were there right from the start, a regular clientele quickly formed. The Pony-Cross and Pony-GTX mopeds, which were somewhat more simply equipped than the competitor models, also won over customers with their robustness and favourable price.

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What's under the Pony saddle?

The technical specifications of the two models have only changed marginally over the years; even the first Pony mopeds were powered by a fan-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke engine with 49 cm3 and an output of 1.2 hp or 0.88 kW. Initially, Sachs engines were used for Pony mopeds. Since the end of small engine production in Schweinfurt, the mopeds have been fitted as standard with an engine from the Italian company Betamotor. Then, as now, a Dell'Orto SHA 13.11 carburettor provided the ignitable mixture. Both models have identical engines and differ technically only in a few minor details such as the chain sprocket or tyres. Although the small but powerful steeds are no longer quite as affordable as they were when they were launched in 1961, they are still just as robust, frugal and endearing.

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The Ponys are still there!

Although a small moped manufacturer like Amsler could not and cannot completely do without suppliers from abroad when building its mopeds, Amsler mopeds still stand for the proverbial Swiss quality. To this day, no cheap parts from the Far East are used. As already mentioned, the 503 engine of the mopeds came from Sachs in Schweinfurt and numerous add-on parts and speedometers came from the Austrian vehicle manufacturer KTM. For a while, the Cross and GTX motorbikes were even completely assembled in the KTM factories in Austria. However, the assembly of the two-wheelers now takes place entirely in Feuerthalen again and many of the former co-operation partners are long gone or have given up the moped division. Only in Feuerthalen are mopeds still assembled. The supposedly small Swiss moped manufacturer obviously has the staying power and is keeping a wonderful piece of Swiss history alive.

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Popular PONY themes

#MOFAKULT #LIVINGICON

Freedom has never felt greater, joy never stronger — than at 30 km/h with the breeze as your companion.

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