{"id":119007,"date":"2026-08-22T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T10:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/119007\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T10:00:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T10:00:33","slug":"moped-mania-chasing-teenage-kicks-at-30km-h","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/119007\/","title":{"rendered":"Moped mania: chasing teenage kicks at 30km\/h"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Claudio<\/p>\n

In canton Solothurn, it’s almost 9am; Claudio Lang and his wife, Claudia, are getting ready to set off. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

In Switzerland, many people\u2019s first taste of independence and freedom was a moped. Following a period of decline, they have been enjoying a revival for some years, particularly on the roads of German-speaking Switzerland. A report on a gathering of \u2018T\u00f6fflibuebe\u2019 (moped boys) amid clouds of nostalgia and bluish smoke.\n<\/p>\n

This content was published on <\/p>\n

August 22, 2026 – 11:00\n<\/p>\n

For his ride, Claudio Lang has chosen the Condor-Puch X30 NS. At first glance, there\u2019s nothing special about it: a red frame, a chrome fuel tank and mudguards, spoked wheels and high handlebars. It\u2019s a classic from the 1970s. But if you look a bit more closely, you\u2019ll spot something unusual: it has a four-speed gearbox. \u201cI modified it with a friend. I certainly don\u2019t want to have to pedal uphill,\u201d he says with a smile in front of his garage, a few kilometres from Olten, northern Switzerland.<\/p>\n

\"Claudia<\/p>\n

Claudia and Claudio Lang have registered on the list of participants for the T\u00f6ffli GP. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

Lang is a proud T\u00f6fflibueb, or moped boy, as people who are passionate about vintage mopeds describe themselves. You sometimes come across them on the country roads of the Swiss Plateau during their group rides.<\/p>\n

Lang\u2019s garage is a sort of land of plenty for lovers of Mofa or T\u00f6ffli, as mopeds are called in German-speaking Switzerland. There are models from various makes, some of which I didn\u2019t even know existed. My knowledge extends no further than the classic Sachs from my teenage years: unreliable, noisy and a real money-pit, guzzling up every last penny I had.<\/p>\n

Addiction to two-strokes<\/p>\n

\u201cMy passion for mopeds was rekindled 12 years ago and, over time, has really taken hold,\u201d says the almost 60-year-old, who works as a lorry driver. \u201cToday, rather than a passion, I\u2019d describe it almost as an illness, an addiction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lang owns 32 mopeds: Ciao Piaggio, Boxer, Sachs, Hercules, DKW, Alpha Chopper, Puch Maxi, Puch Velux, Maxi N, Maxi S. \u201cThe best bit is restoring them to their former glory,\u201d he says. \u201cSometimes the hunt for spare parts can be nerve-wracking. But that\u2019s also what makes this hobby so interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n More<\/p>\n

\"Sign<\/p>\n

More <\/p>\n

Swiss oddities\n <\/p>\n

Penalties and peculiarities of the Swiss Highway Code <\/p>\n

\n

This content was published on <\/p>\n

Feb 7, 2026 <\/p>\n

The Swiss Highway Code reflects some magnificent obsessions typical of the Swiss mentality. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read more: Penalties and peculiarities of the Swiss Highway Code
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

The 1980s, when Lang was a teenager, was the golden age of mopeds. He owned one too, which ended up in a corner and was eventually sold because his dream was a Harley-Davidson.<\/p>\n

He still has that one, but it almost met the same fate as his first moped. \u201cI don\u2019t enjoy the Harley any more. It\u2019s different with the moped,\u201d he says. \u201cYou can\u2019t just buy one ready-made. You have to fix it up yourself. And if you can\u2019t find the parts, you have to ask your mates to give you a hand, milling and adapting parts that are now impossible to find. And that strengthens friendships even more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Claudio<\/p>\n

Mopeds are scattered all over the house. Claudio Lang claims to own 32 of them, but he isn\u2019t entirely sure. He\u2019s always working on some project or other, such as this Puch Maxi, which he wants to adapt for off-road riding. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

The spirit of the \u2018T\u00f6fflibuebe\u2019<\/p>\n

In early June, the T\u00f6fflibuebe community gathered in Trimbach, canton Solothurn, for the Iseb\u00e4hnli-T\u00f6ffli-GP, a rally which, for the past ten years, has brought back to the roads of the Jura and the Swiss Plateau the crackling sound and clouds of bluish smoke from two-stroke engines.<\/p>\n

More than 300 enthusiasts tackled a route of around 90 kilometres, many with a jerrycan of petrol-mixture on their luggage rack. <\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t missed a single edition,\u201d Lang says. For the occasion he wore his sleeveless denim jacket covered in patches and badges, a memento of many rallies across Switzerland and abroad. He brought with him throttle and brake cables, chains and tyre sealant spray. \u201cIf anyone has a problem,\u201d he explains, \u201cI stop and lend a hand. That\u2019s also the spirit that unites us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previous <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A taste of the Easy Rider lifestyle on the narrow roads of the Jura hills, between cantons Basel Country and Solothurn. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Mudguard\"<\/p>\n

After registering, every GP participant receives a sticker as a souvenir. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Moped<\/p>\n

This picture gives a sense of what the average \u2018T\u00f6fflibueb\u2019 looks like: men who are no longer young, except in spirit. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Claudia<\/p>\n

Claudia and Claudio Lang are a well-established team. She works as a postwoman and gets about on an electric scooter all week. Together with her husband, she regularly takes part in moped events, both in Switzerland and abroad. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Ciao<\/p>\n

This Ciao has been on the road since 1976. However, you need to plan ahead a bit before hopping on. It\u2019s best to be prepared, because these days you can no longer find petrol mixed with 2% oil \u2013 which is required for two-stroke engines \u2013 at modern petrol stations. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The mass start is the highlight of the T\u00f6ffli GP. More than 350 mopeds accelerate at the same time: for a moment, the noise is deafening and the smell of petrol hangs over the Hauenstein. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Mopeds<\/p>\n

The entire route is signposted and is roughly 90km long. It mainly follows quiet back roads through stunning countryside. Not all participants cover the full distance: some head straight home, while others say they want to take part in a second, similar event on the same day. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Claudio Lang encountered a technical problem within the first few kilometres. His moped couldn\u2019t manage the gentle climb up to Hauenstein. Fortunately, he was prepared and had brought a spare carburettor jet with him. He replaced it quickly and the journey was able to continue as planned. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

At the gathering, you could see lots of fox tails fluttering in the wind; this decoration has now become almost a clich\u00e9. More unusual, however, is the bouquet of flowers attached to the handlebars of a Ciao. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Here, the climb is simply too steep and the power of the small motors is no longer enough. Riders either pedal or get off and push. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Cast<\/p>\n

On the steep climb between L\u00e4ufelfingen and Eptingen, the engines overheat; the plastic casings on many Ciao mopeds end up like this. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

A quick stop at the top of one of the Jura\u2019s many hills. This rider loves the gentle purr of the engine as it carries through the landscape. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

A brief stop to get our bearings before reaching the ridge of the Jura Mountains near Balsthal and looking down on the warehouses and factories of the Plateau. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Claudio Lang is chatting with Martin Sulzer, the main organiser of the Grand Prix. The two have known each other for many years thanks to their shared passion. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The colourful rubber figurines with which the owner has decorated his moped probably weigh more than 10 kilos. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Even while stopping at the car park of the Berghaus Oberb\u00f6lchen restaurant to enjoy an aperitif, we discuss technique, make improvements and, if necessary, carry out repairs. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Some of the participants in the T\u00f6ffli GP have known each other for many years. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

\"Moped<\/p>\n

One last stop at the red traffic lights. We\u2019re back in Olten and the walk is now almost over. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

Next <\/p>\n

For Martin Sulzer, chairman of the organising committee, the success of the event lies precisely in this spirit. Launched in 2017 with around 140 participants, the GP has grown to attract people from all over the country: from Central Switzerland, Graub\u00fcnden in the east, Ticino in the south and the French-speaking region in the west. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe moped is a sort of social leveller, making us all equal: the bank manager and the domestic worker, the pensioner and the teenager,\u201d Sulzer says. \u201cToday, for me, the moped is above all a sort of time machine that takes me back to when I was 14.\u201d<\/p>\n

The revival of the \u2018tin horse\u2019<\/p>\n

Particularly between the 1960s and the 1980s, the roar of the two-stroke engine was the soundtrack of youth culture. In some parts of Switzerland, the T\u00f6ffli craze continued even beyond that. The moped meant wind in your hair, espadrilles on your feet, an unbuttoned denim jacket and music blaring in your ears from a Walkman. The moped was the key to an unexplored, fascinating and surprising world.<\/p>\n

At 14, young people could finally leave behind the monotony of village life and head for the nearest big city, the nightclub, the world of grown-ups. <\/p>\n

\u201cWith the Mofa, we could finally go to Lucerne, where there was a McDonald\u2019s,\u201d Sulzer recalls. \u201cWe then started \u2018tuning\u2019 it so we wouldn\u2019t starve on the road. From then on, another thrilling element was added: the fear of getting caught by the police.\u201d <\/p>\n

In fact, moped owners often made unauthorised modifications to the engine to exceed the permitted speed limit of 30km\/h.<\/p>\n

Those days are now long gone. The catalytic converter, which made the moped much slower, the compulsory wearing of helmets \u2013 which killed the Easy Rider feeling \u2013 and growing environmental awareness sealed its slow and inexorable decline. <\/p>\n

But not its end! According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the moped is enjoying a revival, at least in some German-speaking cantons. In Zurich, there were around 12,100 mopeds registered in 2015; by 2025, this figure had risen to 17,350 \u2013 an increase of over 43% in just ten years. In Graub\u00fcnden, Lucerne and Solothurn, the increase stands at around 30%.<\/p>\n

\"Mopeds<\/p>\n

The route of the 10th T\u00f6ffli GP winds through the rural areas of cantons Solothurn and Basel Country. Mopeds parked in front of freshly baled hay at the Erzberg restaurant in Ramiswil, canton Solothurn. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

At the Iseb\u00e4hnli-T\u00f6ffli-GP gathering, you can\u2019t help but notice, at a glance, plenty of T\u00f6fflibuebe in their sixties. Riding their mopeds, they may well be hoping to turn back the clock, to return to their teenage years and relive that sense of freedom and the wind in their hair \u2013 back when they had some. However, those carrying a few extra kilos are forced to dismount on the steeper stretches of road to reach the top of the climb. <\/p>\n

During the breaks, over a coffee and a bratwurst, memories of a past both distant and recent intertwine: the first kiss on their two-wheeled steed, the engine secretly souped up, the successful hunt for a spare part that\u2019s now impossible to find.<\/p>\n

Lang listens, laughs and tells stories. Back home, there are still a few mopeds waiting to be fixed. He\u2019s almost out of space in the shed, though, and parting with those pieces of his life won\u2019t be easy. One, in any case, will stay where it is: the moped his son and his circle of friends gave him for his 50th birthday. \u201cNaturally, I have a special bond with that one,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

Then his thoughts turn straight to the next trip. Every year, with his friends, he travels through a different region of Switzerland. Someone organises the route, the hotels and the van for the luggage. Then they set off together, slowly, with the engine sputtering and leaving a bluish cloud in their wake.<\/p>\n

\"Mopeds<\/p>\n

Most of the participants have returned to the starting point at the Iseb\u00e4hnli restaurant in Trimbach. The riders from Ticino have also already loaded their mopeds back onto a van and are ready for the return journey. <\/p>\n

Thomas Kern \/ SWI swissinfo.ch <\/p>\n

Pony, the last moped still in production in Switzerland <\/p>\n

In Switzerland, new mopeds are now a niche product. The last remaining Swiss manufacturer is Amsler & Co. of Feuerthalen, canton Zurich, which has been producing the Pony since 1995, having launched the brand in 1961.<\/p>\n

The current models, the GTX and Cross, remain true to the classic formula: a 49cm\u00b3 Beta two-stroke engine, a two-speed automatic gearbox, a top speed of 30km\/h and a catalytic converter. An electric starter, indicators, a brake light and a horn are available as optional extras.<\/p>\n

Edited by Zeno Zoccatelli. Translated from Italian, sub-edited by Thomas Stephens<\/p>\n

Articles in this story <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In canton Solothurn, it’s almost 9am; Claudio Lang and his wife, Claudia, are getting ready to set off.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119008,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[101,5029,8870,58093,334,58094,17],"class_list":["post-119007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-switzerland","tag-article","tag-beat-swiss-oddities","tag-corporations","tag-motorcycling","tag-production-type-adaptation","tag-road-race","tag-switzerland"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ch\/117138583129115918","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}