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.

GPO fuel tap M12x1 metal (2 connections)
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

21430

GPO fuel tap M12x1 metal (2 connections)

Manufacturer: GPO · Mounting type: Union nut · Possible lever positions: open / closed / reserve · Material lever: Metal · Filter type: Grille · Installation direction: vertical / vertical · Outlet direction: any · Spare tube shape: straight · Thread type: MF12x1 (fine pitch thread)

36,50 EUR

Not in stock

swiing® revival hose nipple 90° Karcoma Alu

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

21429

swiing® revival hose nipple 90° Karcoma Alu

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Cast aluminum · Color: silver · Ø outside: 6 mm · Ø outside: 7.9 mm · Ø outside: 10.5 mm · Total length: 26 mm · Ø inside: 4 mm

15,90 EUR

Not in stock

HK2010 Needle roller bearing 20/26/10 | Beta 521 (A8116)

For: Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

21783

HK2010 Needle roller bearing 20/26/10 | Beta 521 (A8116)

Bearing type: Needle sleeve · Bearing cage: Sheet steel cage · Stock number: HK2010 · Width: 10 mm · Ø outside: 26 mm · Ø inside: 20 mm · Dimension needle bearing: 20/26 x 10

18,20 EUR

Dell'Orto 12/10 SHA carburetor (replacement) | Pony Beta 521
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For: Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

21788

Dell'Orto 12/10 SHA carburetor (replacement) | Pony Beta 521

Manufacturer: Dell'Orto · Area of application: Tuning · Component group Carburetor: Carburetor complete · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio) · Total length: 45 mm · Nominal diameter: 12 mm · Width: 60 mm · Ø Internal connection: 16 mm · Ø without reducing sleeve: 19 mm · Ø Inside entrance: 10 mm · Ø Output inside: 12 mm · Height: 96 mm · Ø Air filter connection: 50.6 mm · Ø fuel hose connection: 6 mm · Mixed oil connection: No · Vacuum connection: No · Choke control: Hand choke · Nozzle thread: M5x0.8 (standard thread) · Nozzle size: 37 · Mounting type: Plug connection clamped

74,20 EUR

Throttle twist grip Oldschool black

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

22206

Throttle twist grip Oldschool black

Material: Aluminum · Surface: varnished · Color: black · Color: silver

57,10 EUR

Rear light original | Pony GTX 521
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For: Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

22304

Rear light original | Pony GTX 521

Manufacturer: Pony · Test mark: E9 · Material: Plastic · Bulb holder: BA15s · Bulb holder: BA9s · Color: black · Color: red · Tension: 12 V · Width: 130 mm · Height: 100 mm · Mounting type: Nuts & bolts · Number of fixing points: 3 pcs · Brake light: Yes · Reflectors: Yes · Battery operated: No · Depth: 150 mm

74,20 EUR

Inox
swiing® ingenious 280 g additional weight HPI Inox
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Zündapp Belmondo · Zündapp

21852

swiing® ingenious 280 g additional weight HPI Inox

Ø mounting hole: 5.5 mm · Ø mounting hole: 10 mm · Manufacturer: swiing® ingenious parts · Material: Chrome steel (colloquially known as stainless steel) · Surface: blank · Ø bolt circle: 50 mm · Ø bolt circle: 55 mm · Ø outside: 95 mm · Thickness: 12.5 mm · Ø inside: 39 mm · Number of fixing points: 7 pcs · Area of application: High End · Area of application: Performance · Area of application: Racing · Area of application: Tuning · Weight: 300 g

57,10 EUR

HPI racing ignition 12V with light 60W | Beta 521
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For: Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512)

21851

HPI racing ignition 12V with light 60W | Beta 521

Manufacturer: HPI · Ø cable: 7 mm · Direction of rotation: left · Direction of rotation: right · Tension: 12 V · Performance: 60 W · Area of application: Tuning

377,20 EUR

Heidenau 2.75 x 16" tires K46 lugs
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Tomos · Alpa Chopper / Turbo · Cilo

21976

Heidenau 2.75 x 16" tires K46 lugs

Inventory-managed: No · Manufacturer: Heidenau · Tire width: 2.75 " · Color: black · Width: 2 3/4 " · Wheel size: 16 " · Old designation: 20 x 2.75 " · Speed index: B = 50 km/h · Load capacity index: 36 = 125 kg · Profile type: K46 · Tire type: Stollen · White wall: No · Tubeless (yes/no): Tubetype TT (requires hose)

62,80 EUR

Hutchinson 2.25 x 17" Turbo Allround tires
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For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Tomos · Zündapp

21983

Hutchinson 2.25 x 17" Turbo Allround tires

Inventory-managed: No · Manufacturer: Hutchinson · Tire width: 2.25 " · Color: black · Width: 2 1/4 " · Wheel size: 17 " · Old designation: 21 x 2.25 " · Speed index: J = 100 km/h · Load capacity index: 39 = 136 kg · Profile type: Turbo · Tire type: Allround · White wall: No · Tubeless (yes/no): Tubetype TT (requires hose)

61,60 EUR

swiing® revival crankshaft holder (for mounting the bearings)

For: Universal · Puch · Sachs · Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio · Zündapp Belmondo · Solex · Tomos · Bye Bike · Alpa Chopper / Turbo · Cilo · DKW · Fantic · Garelli · Honda · ILO / JLO · Kreidler · Malaguti · MBK / Motobécane · Miele · Monark · Peugeot · Victoria · Yamaha · Zündapp

21981

swiing® revival crankshaft holder (for mounting the bearings)

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Material: Steel · Surface: galvanized (blue) · Width: 80 mm · Height: 130 mm · Area of application: Special tool · Thickness: 6 mm

22,80 EUR

Throttle twist grip Oldschool gray

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

22272

Throttle twist grip Oldschool gray

Material: Aluminum · Surface: varnished · Color: black · Color: gray · Color: silver

57,10 EUR

swiing® revival nozzle set M5 (32 - 50) Dell'Orto SHA, PHBG

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

22273

swiing® revival nozzle set M5 (32 - 50) Dell'Orto SHA, PHBG

Manufacturer: swiing® revival parts · Component group Carburetor: Spraying · Material: Brass · Quantity: 10 pcs · Carburetor type: PHBG · Carburetor type: SHA · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio) · Nozzle type: Main nozzle · Drive: Slot · Total length: 8 mm · Nozzle size: 32 · Nozzle size: 34 · Nozzle size: 36 · Nozzle size: 38 · Nozzle size: 40 · Nozzle size: 42 · Nozzle size: 44 · Nozzle size: 46 · Nozzle size: 48 · Nozzle size: 50 · Nozzle thread: M5x0.8 (standard thread)

23,90 EUR

Dell'Orto float SHA 7 - 13 mm
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For: Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

22327

Dell'Orto float SHA 7 - 13 mm

Manufacturer: Dell'Orto · Component group Carburetor: Adjusting screws, float, etc. · Material: Plastic · Color: white · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio)

12,00 EUR

Dell'Orto float chamber SHA 7 - 13 mm
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For: Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

22336

Dell'Orto float chamber SHA 7 - 13 mm

Manufacturer: Dell'Orto · Component group Carburetor: Adjusting screws, float, etc. · Material: Plastic · Carburetor type: Dell'Orto · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio) · Number of fixing points: 2 pcs

9,05 EUR

Dell'Orto slide spring SHA 7 - 13 mm
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For: Pony / Cilo (Beta 521 & 512) · Piaggio

22329

Dell'Orto slide spring SHA 7 - 13 mm

Spring design: Pressure spring · Manufacturer: Dell'Orto · Carburetor type: SHA (Piaggio) · Ø outside: 10.5 mm · Total length: 28 mm

2,15 EUR

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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