European countries consider a 4-wheel bike legally as a bicycle. If equipped with an e-assist with maximal continuous rated power of 250W of which the output is cut off at the speed of 25 km/h or when the cyclist stops pedalling, it is legally still a bicycle.
Not at all, in fact the PONY4 is not broader than many Mountain bike steering handle bars. It is also much narrower than child trailers. The internal turning circle of 4,6m (5,5m for long frame) is small and no limit on trails or narrow roads.
There are several ways to transport your PONY4. It is delivered with an unmounted seat in a card board box of 1820x830x530 mm and you can keep this box for future transport. By unmounting the seat it fits inside most family cars, the pedal boom can stick out between the front seats of the car. However, the fastest way is to roll it on the roof of your car and tighten it with 2 ratchet strap belts in such way that it can not move. No need for a rack, the tires can have direct contact with the roof of your car without scratching it.
Sadly, bicycles are often stolen so if you park it outside, lock it well with a chain not only through the wheel (which can be easily unmounted) but also through the leaf springs and around a fix object. Better is to park it inside, in a garage or in the vestibule. With a hook in the wall the PONY4 can be put vertical to gain place.
Thanks to the 4th wheel the gravitation point can be put higher and the stability is still much better in cornering than with trikes. A higher and straight seat position enables easier stepping in and out plus a much better visibility in city traffic. On top of that, the space behind the seat and between the rear wheels offers an ideal place for cargo, where extra weight does not influence the driving physics.
Both rear wheels are engaged on the powered axle with the help of bicycle freewheel sprockets. The power will always be transmitted to the slowest turning wheel and in turns the outer wheel can turn faster. This system is light, energy efficient and prevents the powered wheel from slipping.
If you do not block the PONY4 when parking, it can easily roll away. Pull the brake levers in, then push with your little finger on the buttons on the side of the brake levers while slowly loosen the brake levers. The levers will stay in the braking position. To remove the parking brake simply pull again on the brake levers.
The PONY4 is genial in its simplicity and the Pinion gearing is an important part of this. It allows to have all the gearing between the cranks and only one straight chain to the rear axle without any additional mechanics. This solution is very energy efficient and very user friendly as it allows to shift at stand-still. It lowers risk of break downs and maintenance. It is an investment but it pays off! Only when mounting a mid-drive e-assist we need another type of gearing as the place of the Pinion is taken by the engine. In that case we mount a Rohloff Speed Hub.
Only if you have big loads to transport in a hilly region or if your condition is not optimal. In other cases the PONY4 is light and efficient enough to be driven without engine. On flat roads, the basic PINION C1.6 gearbox offers with 295% enough range. In hilly regions, the upgrade to the C1.12 gearbox with the range of 600% is advised. The hub motor on the return chain is an E-assist variant that is very simple to install afterwards and can be purchased from us.
The glass fiber composite leaf springs offer an elastic cross connection of the front axles and a torsion-open swing arm on the rear axle, which allows these axles to be twisted to a high degree. Thanks to the double function as a carrier and as a suspension, the PONY4 saves a lot of weight, maintenance and complexity. Due to the 2 axles, the suspension can be much softer without that the bike tilts (like trikes).
If you plan to use your PONY4 also in rainy weather yes! We keep them optional because to be light, they are hand-made in composite material and therefore expensive. They are closed to the side of the rider and offer a perfect protection in rainy weather.
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