Bicycling

In the 1970s the Swiss were looking for a replacement for its rifle. They saw the advantages of a smaller caliber and tried to come up with their own, but then decided it was NOT worth the cost to developed and adopted the US 5.56 mm round. The Swiss then looked for a rifle to fire it. This included looking at the AR-15/M16 and the AR-18 in addition to other 5,56 mm weapons. They also looked at potential enemy weapons for comparison purposes including the Russian AK-47.

When the Swiss were done, they had decided to design their own Rifle, but it was based on the Finnish version of the AK-47, but in 5.56 mm. Now the Finnish AK-47 had been based on the first modification of the original AK-47. The original AK-47 (of which few were made) had been designed to be stamped out but the Russians did not have the stamping machining to do so. Thus the Russians then had the AK-47 receivers made using drill, an expensive but effective way to make receivers. The Finns adopted that version for their own Army and was the basis for both the Swiss rifle and the Israel Galil rifle.

The Swiss, unlike the Israelis who adopted the M16 magazine system into the Galil, kept the AK magazine system in their rifle (but made the magazine for the 5.56 x 45 round NOT the Ak's 7.62x39 round). The M16 is considered faster to load and unload into the rifle (it is a simple push in and push a single button to release). The Ak-47 is considered to have a stronger attachment point to the rifle in that you must push in the front on the magazine into the rifle and then push the back end till it clicks

Thus the Ak-47 is held in place by two points, but the M16 magazine is held by only one. This provides more support for the magazine in the magazine well and for that reason the Ak-47s can use 100 rounds magazines, but such magazines when loaded with bullets are to heavy for the M16 system and thus are unreliable in an M16.

The Swiss Rifle is considered the best version of the AK. The Finnish version is considered #2 and Russian made AKs are considered #3 (The Galil is considered both inferior and equal to these but that depends on your attitude to the Galil using the M16 magazines). Russian AK-47s since 1959 are actually AKM-47s, the M stands for Modified. By 1959 the Russians were capable of stamping out AK-47 receivers and shifted to such manufacturing techniques in the early 1960s. This permitted the Russians to produce a huge number of AK-47s and in 1974 the AK-74 with the then new round of 5.45x39 round. When people want AKs, it is the Russian version most want, the other makers of the AK are NOT considered as good (except for the Finns, Swiss and some of the old Warsaw pact nations). The Galil is well liked in Latin America. During the Iraq War, those Iraqis who were fighting for our side wanted American M16s (so when their fired their rifles US Troops will not think they are enemy troops) or Russian Made AKs. The Iraqi Troops disliked the Egyptian made AKs we supplied them (Iraq before the War could make they own AKs, but that capacity was destroyed early in the War).

Side note: The Galil rifle was popular in Latin America do to its use of American M16 magazines and its greater reliability in swamps then the American M16. In Israeli service the US provided M16s at a price the Israelis could not match with the Galil so the Israel Army, except for its Armor and Artillery units use the M16, but the dust caused by the tracks of the Armor and Self propelled guns is the main reason those units retain the Galil. Both the Galil and M16 are to be replaced by a new bull pup design over the next few years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMI_Galil

More on the Finnish version:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rk_62

More on the AK, in Russia they have looked at replacing the AK but with so many AKs in stock they see no need to do so for decades unless a major war breaks out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47#Replacement

I bring this up for the Swiss produces high quality items, even if the item was designed elsewhere. The Swiss Machine gun is a copy of the German MG-42 of WWII, and again it is considered the best version of that Machine Gun (Which is considered one of the top three Machine Guns in the World today).

Since this is the bicycle group, lets go back to Bicycles. The MO93 uses components from all over the world, including Shimano and Magura. In 2012 the Swiss ordered new bikes, while the Bicycle battalions were dissolved in 1999, the Swiss see a need for such bicycles even today. Given the maker of the MO-93 is out of business, the Swiss ordered a new set of Bicycles, the MO-12 with eight speed and for the first time has disc brakes and an aluminium frame:



http://www.simpel.ch/velos/militaervelo.html

From the Simpel.ch web site (Google Translated from German to English)

Character: The Official Military Velo the Swiss Army is a simpel.ch Velo! The new military bicycle is light yet very robust construction with modern components. The very high-quality, lightweight unisex special frame fits thanks to the "kink" in the saddle tube in a size for riders between 160-190cm. An extremely versatile 26 inch bike for everyday and leisure with a light and reliable equipment.

The quality 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub gear ensures a long life and efficient drive. The lightweight and very strong Magura MT4 disc brakes ensure uncompromising deceleration. The top lighting system is powered by a hub dynamo with current and switches on automatically when it gets dark. Headlight and taillight have a parking light and LED. The special carriers are designed in steel and for maximum loads. The military Velo comes including a tool bag with original simpel.ch military bicycle pump and other accessories.
Suitability: riders who value the highest quality and a "certain something" estimate of military bicycles.
Application:
everyday life
commute
long commute
Comfortable cycling tours
fitness
Bicycle Tours with luggage
Technology:
Light special aluminum frame in one size
Lightweight, stylish aluminum fork
Robust 26 'wheels with DT Swiss rims, lightweight round profile tires with Kevlar puncture protection
High quality 8-speed Alfine hub gear
Light and very snappy hydraulic Disc Magura MT4
Failsafe lights with hub dynamo, LED lighting (40 lux), Auto power and status light
Complete City facilities with special Tubus
Frame bag with pump, tools and spare tube more details
Seat position: sporty comfortable
Price: CHF 2495.00

configure and order this bike in the online shop

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Technical on the bike (Google translated from German):

Frame aluminum frame bike 12, 26 "
Black shiny
Fork bicycle 12, 26 "
Hub Shimano Alfine 8-speed
Shifter Shimano Alfine SL-S500 Rapidfire
Drive Shimano Chain CN-HG53
Translation 8 gears, total ratio 307%
Headlight B & M Lumotec IQ Cyro R senso plus
Rear light B & M Toplight line plus
Hub dynamo Shimano Alfine DH-S501
Magura hydraulic disc brake MT4
Tyres Schwalbe Marahton Plus 26x1.75 Tour
Tubus military support front / rear
Rim DT Swiss EX500
Seatpost Gravity Gap
Saddle Sportourer Zoo Flow
Stem FSA OS-190LX
Handlebar Metropolis
Grips Velo VLG-649AD2S
Pedals Wellgo LU-C27G
Stands Pletscher Optima
Extras Abus frame bag Onyx ST 250 incl. Content
Warranty Overview guarantee our Velos
Weight 16.8 kg
Size Geometry data bicycle 12

Price from the factory (in Switzerland) only about $2600 plus fright.