Rampage January 2025 Newsletter

Jan 5, 2025

Rampage News – January 2025

Happy New Year to all our Rampagers! 2025 is set to be an exciting year with plenty of events, developments, and opportunities for adventure riders to look forward to. Let’s dive into what’s coming:

What’s in this newsletter:

Summary & Highlights for 2025

Here’s a quick glance at what’s happening this year:

  • The 2025 National Event Riding Calendar is now live! Check it out here.
    PS. Events are carefully scheduled to avoid conflicts with other major events or school holidays.
  • 5 Rampage Outrides planned throughout the year, open to public participation.
  • 4 Rampage ODC events, forming the Rampage Annual Championship for 2025.
  • Launching two new online platforms for outride bookings and sellable routes/roadbooks.

Let’s get off the couch, gear up, and enjoy an action-packed riding season. Although some developments are still in progress, we’re excited to share what’s coming in the months ahead!

What’s Happening in the Market? Why All This Work?

The South African riding community is evolving, and for the advneutre biker some challenges persist.

Is the adventure market getting smaller? Why are there less and less events each year?

Here is our view of it:

  • Older generations that used to ride in their youth are transitioning to adventure bikes.
  • Younger riders entering the bike industry favor plastic bike events, which are thriving but different in focus. It is much cheaper to get a smaller bike and participate in a local daily event at a reasonable fee.
  • Economic pressures and high bike costs are limiting participation.
  • A lack of annual events (social and rally) means its more a question of each to their own, in small groups or solo outrides.

Despite these challenges, adventure riding remains a valuable outlet for:

  • Unparalleled stress relief and mental refreshment.
  • Skill-building and personal growth.
  • Exploration of South Africa’s stunning landscapes.

At Rampage, we’re committed to fostering this community through events, routes, and innovative solutions, while also introducing monetization to ensure sustainability. Collaborating with suppliers and event organizers, we aim to enhance the riding experience for all Rampage followers and like minded riders.

Rampage Paid Membership

We’re excited to launch the Rampage Paid Membership. Rampage Membership is designed for riders who crave tough, rally-focused adventures on their adventure bikes, while reaping rewards that far outweigh the cost.

Get even more detail by CLICKING HERE and visiting the explainer page.

Offering benefits for like minded adventure riders such as:

  • Discounts at bike dealers and shops for spares, tires, and gear.
  • Exclusive savings on Rampage events, including ODCs and the Championship.
  • Discounts at tracks, venues, and selected external events.
  • Benefits and discount at participating training venues.
  • Reduced prices on Rampage products and services.
  • An optional Rampage T-Shirt included with your annual membership.

Membership Fee: R1500 per year (includes t-shirt), valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Registration is easy: create a free account on the Rampage website, purchase the membership, and enjoy discounts immediately. Your virtual membership card is accessible in your account for partner discounts and can be displayed at partners to qualify for the benefits.

Note: Basic website registration is free but provides only notifications and newsletters. Paid membership unlocks all savings and benefits.

Rampage ODC Championship 2025 – A Unique Cross-Country Adventure Bike Challenge!

After hosting 12 successful ODC events over the past two years, it’s time to take things to the next level with a full championship format. It is aimed at the adventure bike rider looking for a little bit more challenge, more excitement, more technical riding, more endurance and just ‘more’. You can participate on any road legal adventure bike or rally orientated bike.

It is essensially a navigation, cross country, endurance, dakar inspired, technology driven adventure bike series of four one day events held over the span of a year (10 months). Each event is tracked, interactive and navigated by using an android mobile device and an app. The results and penalites throughout the year from each ODC you ride, culminates in your annual ‘score’. At the end of the year we will have a Championship Results Celebration.

By stringing together our ODC’s for 2025, it naturally becomes a series of events that culminates in what we will now call the Rampage Annual Cross Country Championship. Here’s what you need to know. Every alternate month we will have an outride that serves as training to help keep you in shape.

What is an ODC that makes up the championship events?

An ODC (One-Day Challenge) is a single-day event testing endurance, navigation, and technical riding. Scoring is not based on speed but rather based on navigation accuracy, speed zones, and waypoint navigation using digital roadbooks or interactive GPX tracks via the RBR app. These events are challenging but non-competitive, focusing on skill, endurance, navigation and strategy.

Championship Details:

  • 4 ODCs held quarterly from February to November.
  • Complete at least 3 events to qualify for the championship; all 4 events earns extra bonus points.
  • Individual participation in each ODC is allowed without being part of the championship.
  • An annual scoreboard will be public with our ‘Ranking Chart’ to show each riders progress throughout the year on each stage and each event.

Cost per ODC: R845 per event (25% off for paid Rampage Members).
There is no additioanal cost to be part of the Championship during the year. Simply participate in the ODC events. Limited spot and usually capped at 30 riders per event. So don’t wait and don’t mis out.

Registration for each ODC opens a month before the event date.

Rampage Sellable Routes and Roadbooks

We’re introducing a platform on our Rampage website where route creators can share their routes and earn support from the community. Riders will be able to see routes throughout the country on an interactive map. Route format can be available in either digital roadbook or GPX. Here’s how it works:

  • Route creators/builders register on our website and upload routes, pending Rampage quality checks for accuracy and safety.
  • Riders can search areas and purchase single-use access to routes, available as ‘GPX Tracks‘ or ‘Digital Roadbooks‘.
  • Routes are accessible on the RBR app with tracking and expiry for fair use.

Note: Support our route creators by purchasing routes and not pirating routes. This helps sustain the community and encourages future route development!

Introducing ‘Knoway’ – Points of Interest & Outride Booking platform

Knoway is a new idea and platform designed to help riders discover, share, and connect what they know and like. It’s a hub for finding amazing places and planning rides, all tailored for the biking community.

Key Features:

Knoway focuses on sharing Points of Interest (POIs) for bikers country wide, including scenic stops, unique accommodations, camping, great short route sections and great spots for food and drinks. No need to ask around for cool places to stay or ‘kuier’!
Riders can also explore or create outrides, connecting with others in their area if they are looking to join someones rides.

  • Event creators can set up outride rides with free or paid participation.
  • Riders can browse, book, and join events via the app or website (www.knoway.co.za).
  • Interactive map displays POIs, routes, and outrides across the country.

Think of Knoway as a tool to make riding more accessible, whether planning a solo adventure or joining group rides. It’s your guide to exploring and connecting!

That’s all for this month’s update. We’re excited about what 2025 holds and can’t wait to see you at our events and on the trails.

Until next time, ride safe!

Eugene