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.

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

16325

KMC pedal chain black

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

CHF 18.90

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

16326

KMC pedal chain purple

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

CHF 18.90

swiing® revival stud bolt M6x38 inlet/outlet galvanized (10.9 strength)
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For: Universal · Puch · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Zündapp Belmondo

16316

swiing® revival stud bolt M6x38 inlet/outlet galvanized (10.9 strength)

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Diameter: 5.9 mm · Thread type: M6x1 (standard thread) · Nominal diameter (thread): 6 mm · Total length: 38 mm · Thread length: 11 mm · Thread length: 19 mm · Strength class: 10.9

CHF 2.00

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

16604

KMC pedal chain light blue

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

CHF 18.90

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

15355

KMC pedal chain yellow

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

CHF 18.90

Nos
Magura deco / clutch lever black NOS
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Zündapp Belmondo

15793

Magura deco / clutch lever black NOS

Manufacturer: Magura · Material: Plastic · Material: Steel · Surface: burnished · Housing material: Steel · Material lever: Plastic · Color: black · Total length: 94 mm · Thread type: M5x0.8 (standard thread) · Mounting type: Screws · Number of fixing points: 2 pcs · Ø inside: 22 mm · Magura OEM number: 111 350

CHF 64.90

Bellows Ø 27/37 x 160 | Pony GTX (P4520)
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For: Universal · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

16055

Bellows Ø 27/37 x 160 | Pony GTX (P4520)

Manufacturer: Pony · Material: Rubber · Color: black · Ø inside 2: 37 mm · Total length: 160 mm · Ø inside: 27 mm

CHF 9.90

Decompressor cable Ø 1.5 mm x 180 cm (pear-shaped nipple)
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Zündapp Belmondo

16565

Decompressor cable Ø 1.5 mm x 180 cm (pear-shaped nipple)

Ø Stranded wire: 1.5 mm · Cable length: 1800 mm · Nipple shape: Pears · Ø nipple: 3.3 mm · Ø nipple: 5 mm · Nipple length: 7 mm · Manufacturer: Made in Germany · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Area of application: Standard · Pony OEM number: P0919

CHF 2.40

GPO automatic grips (Magura replica) cream
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

16117

GPO automatic grips (Magura replica) cream

Manufacturer: GPO · Material: Rubber · Color: cream · Ø inside: 22 mm · Ø inside: 24 mm · Total length: 106 mm

CHF 12.90

"cilo" Sticker 165 x 44 mm | Cilo 520

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

16103

"cilo" Sticker 165 x 44 mm | Cilo 520

Material: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) · Width: 165 mm · Height: 44 mm · Rear side texture: Adhesive · Consistency: petrol resistant · Place of use: Frame (+ tank) · Transferfolie: No

CHF 13.90

EBR telescopic fork "Jumpy" silver (P4510) | Pony GTX widescreen & Beta 521
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For: Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

11143

EBR telescopic fork "Jumpy" silver (P4510) | Pony GTX widescreen & Beta 521

Manufacturer: EWC · Material: Aluminum · Material: Steel · Surface: chrome-plated · Surface: varnished · Color: Chrome · Color: black · Color: silver · Adjustable: Yes · Ø spars: 28 mm · Spar end distance (center-center): 150 mm · Ø outer head tube: 25.5 mm · Ø head tube inside: 21.5 mm · Head tube length: 225 mm · Total length: 670 mm · Fork bridge - center wheel axle: 410 mm · Distance brake cam to wheel axle center-center: 38 mm · Thread type: FG25.4 (1" 24G) · Thread length: 58 mm

CHF 299.90

GPO clamping bridge EBR cast fork plate aluminum silver
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

11136

GPO clamping bridge EBR cast fork plate aluminum silver

Total length: 47 mm · Manufacturer: GPO · Material: Aluminum · Surface: anodized · Color: silver · Width: 17 mm · Height: 20.4 mm · Clamping diameter: 22 mm · Number of fixing points: 2 pcs · Ø mounting hole: 6.4 mm · Hole spacing: 30 mm

CHF 8.90

GPO automatic grips (Magura replica) gray
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

11511

GPO automatic grips (Magura replica) gray

Manufacturer: GPO · Material: Rubber · Color: gray · Ø inside: 22 mm · Ø inside: 24 mm · Total length: 106 mm

CHF 9.90

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 · Suzuki · Monark · Peugeot · Victoria · Yamaha · Zündapp · Franco Morini · KTM

10837

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

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

CHF 13.50

Hutchinson 2.25 x 17" GP1 Semi-Slick Tire
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Tomos · Zündapp

10826

Hutchinson 2.25 x 17" GP1 Semi-Slick Tire

Inventory-managed: No · Manufacturer: Hutchinson · Tire width: 2.25 " · Tire width [mm]: 57.15 · Width: 2 1/4 " · Wheel size: 17 " · Old designation: 21 x 2.25 " · Speed index: L = 120 km/h · Profile type: GP1 · Tire type: Semi-slick · White wall: No · Tubeless (yes/no): Tubetype TT (requires hose)

CHF 64.90

swiing® revival 7/32" balls Ø 5.56 mm (22 pcs.)
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

10808

swiing® revival 7/32" balls Ø 5.56 mm (22 pcs.)

Ø ball [inch] / [mm]: 7/32" (5.56 mm) · Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Steel · Surface: hardened & ground · Area of application: Standard · Number of components: 22 pcs

CHF 4.90

Page 1 of 71

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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