The AmpliRider - A 12V, 3-input Mixer/Amplifier with remote mounted volume adjuster

[EA Gary]

Hello everyone, and especially a hello to the members who already own an AmpliRider!

My name is Gary. I've been building amps and serving the audio community for the past ten years. During this time some members of the UKGSER forums have ordered and also mentioned that I should post here in the Vendors section.

The AmpliRider safely combines up to three inputs (such as a GPS, radar detector, or MP3 player), makes them louder, then sends them all to one output so you can hear everything at the same time through a set of headphones or helmet speakers.

The remote volume adjuster attaches with a 6ft cord so you can mount it in an easy to reach spot for volume adjustments as you ride. The amp wires directly to the bike's 12 volt supply and does not need any batteries. More information can be found on the website below:

http://electric-avenues.com/audio/amplirider/

The amp is offered directly for U.S. $70 which already includes free Airmail shipping worldwide. This also includes a lifetime free repair warranty.

If there are any questions about the amp please let me know and I will be glad to help. I can be reached at Gary (at) Electric-Avenues.com

Have a nice day!

 

[Berin]

I've used this and can highly recommend both the device and Gary's service. Wish there was a similar solution for bluetooth comms.

 

[stolzy]

I ruined mine with a ham-fisted attempt at repair. Not only did he repair it free of charge, but didn't ask for payment for the return carriage and gave me a big discount on another amplifier.

The stuff is good and the back-up second to none.

 

[rjsmith26]

+1 Gary is a star

Product is great - had prob after 3 years with remote volume - Gary fixed with no charge - no quibbles.

Agree that a Bluetooth solution would be perfection

 

[dave hendy]

Hi Gary, I have problems with the volume of navigation prompts from my BMW Navigator 4 fitted on my R1200GS LC. Due to the cradle on the GS the navigation prompts are blue toothed to an Autocom BTM-02A dongle http://www.chainspeed.co.uk/products/AUTOCOM-Stereo-Bluetooth-Module-BTM%2d02A-All-Units/843.html then wired to my Autocom unit. Could I fit your amp between my blue tooth dongle and my autocom unit (Super pro avi) to improve things? Our voice communication and music volumes are OK.

Thanks
Dave

 

[EA Gary]

Hello Berin, Stolzy, and Rjsmith26! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am glad you have been enjoying the amp.

Hello Dave hendy! You are right, the AmpliRider could be installed between the BTM-02A Bluetooth dongle and the Autocom's input to create more volume boost so that you could hear the Navigator 4 prompts.

If you have any questions I will be glad to help.

 

[Edventure]

I have one also. Great bit of kit!

 

[ebbo]

What would be nice is a mono amp and speaker in a box, maybe a single full range car speaker with one of your amps driving it? genuine good sound quality like an old radio is the aim without all the bling and hype of the main stream makers

 

[trebor]

Hello Dave hendy! You are right, the AmpliRider could be installed between the BTM-02A Bluetooth dongle and the Autocom's input to create more volume boost so that you could hear the Navigator 4 prompts.

If you have any questions I will be glad to help.

I don't think it is as straight forward as that as the BTM-02A provides audio in both directions to allow for mobile phone use via the GPS unit. Therefore, I think the pin out of the jack used on the BTM-02A may be different to that used on the Amplirider. I think the Amplirider could be used, but some modification may be needed first, such as a special lead that breaks out the audio coming from BTM-02A to the Autocom so it could be amplified, but allowing the audio from the Autocom (e.g. speech to the mobile phone) to the BTM-02A to by-pass the Amplirider.

Edit - As an after thought there may be a lead that already does this. The BTM-02A used to be supplied with two leads, used depending which Autocom you had. Earlier this year they started to supply a third lead for use with earlier Autocom AVI units. This lead had two connectors at the Autocom end which plugged into two different Autocom Aux Sockets. I think the lead was to stop telephone speech being muted, and it may well break out the audio from the Autocom to the BTM-02A, but I'm not sure without further investigation. Sam at Chainspeed would be able to clarify this.
I have had similar issues with volume level since having to switch from hardwired to Bluetooth for audio from my GPS to the Autocom (I used to have a Zumo 550 with an Autocom AVI, but now use a BMW Nav V). I now have an Autocom SPA unit which will hopefully resolve the volume level issues when I get round to fitting it, but if it doesn't I'll be looking to use something like the Amplirider to try and sort it out. As a Telecoms Engineer (retired) I'm hoping I'll easily be able to work out the necessary break-outs (if required).

Bob

 

[mcinlb]

Hi Gary, I have problems with the volume of navigation prompts from my BMW Navigator 4 fitted on my R1200GS LC. Due to the cradle on the GS the navigation prompts are blue toothed to an Autocom BTM-02A dongle http://www.chainspeed.co.uk/products/AUTOCOM-Stereo-Bluetooth-Module-BTM%2d02A-All-Units/843.html then wired to my Autocom unit. Could I fit your amp between my blue tooth dongle and my autocom unit (Super pro avi) to improve things? Our voice communication and music volumes are OK.

Thanks
Dave

I tried exactly what you describe BTM-02A through Amplirider to an Autocom unit(though not the AVI) result, no increase in volume, I think the autocom unit was 'saturated'.

I bought a second hand AVI autocom and some higher quality helmet speakers and now get all the volume I require(partially deaf in left ear and wearing earplugs) (still with the BTM-02A).

 

[stolzy]

I tried exactly what you describe BTM-02A through Amplirider to an Autocom unit(though not the AVI) result, no increase in volume, I think the autocom unit was 'saturated'.

I bought a second hand AVI autocom and some higher quality helmet speakers and now get all the volume I require(partially deaf in left ear and wearing earplugs) (still with the BTM-02A).

I tried much the same with a StarCom and as found a small increase in volume, but the input of the Starcom was saturated and there was a lot of distortion. The amp has to be on the output side of the the Auto-/Star-/Com.

This means a lot of wires hanging out of your helemet

 

[EA Gary]

Thanks Edventure I am glad you have been enjoying the amp!

Hello Ebbo! The AmpliRider is able to output 0.2 Watts of RMS power. This would not be enough to power a speaker but the AmpliRider could be used as a preamp between a music player and a larger amp, say with about 10 Watts or more (depending on the speaker).

Well from what Mcinlb and Stolzy reported it sounds like the BTM-02A is already outputting a strong signal and there is not much room for more volume boost.

Using a different set of helmet speakers may be the simplest thing to try. You may also want to try updating the firmware in the GPS to see if it helps. I noticed a thread in the Garmin forums where some people were requesting a firmware update to help get more volume through the Bluetooth but I do not know if Garmin did so:

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?6104-BMW-Navigator-IV-(Zumo-660)-Bluetooth-volume