Betting on Himself: The Dirtbag Brands Story | Josh Salazar | Ep.150

Send us Fan MailJosh Salazar joins the One Gang Worldwide Podcast for an honest conversation about risk, resilience, and what it really takes to build something from nothing.After spending nearly two decades in the powersports industry, Josh built a reputation working with companies like MSA Wheels and MTA, learning the business from the ground up through sales, distribution, dealer relationships, product development, and countless miles on the road. Then, in 2020, everything changed.When MTA unexpectedly shut its doors, Josh found himself standing at a crossroads. With uncertainty everywhere, the economy in turmoil, and the world shutting down during COVID, he made the decision many people only talk about, he bet on himself.That decision became Dirtbag Brands.In this episode, Josh takes us through the highs and lows of launching a company during one of the most unpredictable periods in modern history. He shares the lessons learned from years in the industry, the challenges of building a brand from scratch, what dealers truly need from their aftermarket partners, and why relationships still matter more than ever in powersports.This is more than a conversation about products and business. It's a story about taking a leap of faith, navigating adversity, and chasing a vision when there are no guarantees.Whether you're a rider, dealer, entrepreneur, or someone pursuing a dream of your own, this is an episode packed with insight, perspective, and real-world lessons from the road.Connect with Josh Salazar:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshsalazar1Website: https://dirtbagbrands.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dirtbagbrandsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dirtbagbrands/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtbagbrands/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtbagbrandsCheck Out Our Sponsors:SAVE 20% on Milwaukee Leather motorcycle gear!🛒 Shop here: https://milwaukeemotorcycleclothing.com✅ Use promo code: CW20Connect with Cycles Worldwide:Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more episodes:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CyclesWorldwideFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551644038136Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/cyclesworldwidellc/LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergey-tokman-2a78a6284/TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@cycles.worldwideTimestamps:00:00 COVID Launch Shock00:25 Podcast Intro and Guest02:03 Rapid Fire Icebreaker07:43 Growing Up and Early Bikes09:58 Denny's Leadership Lessons14:49 Boiler Room Sales Grind18:06 First Power Sports Break21:21 Dealership Relationships Matter23:17 Inside MTA Distributor Life29:13 Starting Dirtbag Brands33:08 Pandemic and Shipping Chaos37:01 Honesty and COVID Loans37:20 Why Dirtbag Brands38:42 Durability First Products39:33 Mentors and Design Genius41:28 KISS Rule Universal Mounts43:50 Engineering Mirrors That Lock46:27 Modern Marketing and AI SEO51:00 Organic Growth Over Influencers53:41 Industry Trends Sub 10K Boom55:23 Dealers OEMs and Price Shock01:00:58 ATV UTV Lessons From Sea-Doo01:03:30 Who Leads Side-by-Side Market01:07:57 Future Plans and Industry Outlook01:11:04 Where to Find Dirtbag Brands01:11:55 Final Thanks and Networking#JoshSalazar #Torc1Racing #DirtbagBrands #OneGangWorldwide #Powersports #Motorcycles #UTVLife #ATV #MotorcycleIndustry #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #OffRoad #Aftermarket #DealerNetwork #MotorcycleAccessories #PowersportsIndustry