As co-founder/owner of Wild Ass Motorcycle Seats, host of the Wild Ass PodcASSt, and self-described “guy who did a long-distance ride,” Craig Johnson joins host Heather Wilson Schiltz to talk about building a recognizable brand and what the Hoka Hey Challenge taught him about preparation, grit and focus.
Craig has heard stories of riders who thought their days on two wheels were over until a Wild Ass cushion gave them back their freedom. From a young woman recovering from a devastating crash to a Spyder rider in a wheelchair finding his way back on the road, these moments fuel Craig’s passion to keep innovating.
In this episode, he shares how feedback from riders shapes the product, why vending at motorcycle rallies is key to connecting with customers, and how a simple seat cushion has made a life-changing difference for so many.
🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- How riding minibikes and racing locally led Craig into his first dealership job (and the pitch that got him hired)
- Launching Wild Ass: a lawsuit, a business partner’s health fight and fully taking the reins in 2019
- How the name “Wild Ass” came to be
- Vending at Daytona Bike Week, Arizona Bike Week, Americade, the BMW Rally, Sturgis Motorcycle Week, Milwaukee’s Homecoming, Bikes Blues & BBQ, and more
- The tech in the cushions: interconnected air cells
- Customer stories that stick: from a young rider with a smashed pelvis to a Spyder rider in a wheelchair getting back on the road
- The Wild Ass PodcASSt: sharing riders’ stories, pausing during a busy season, and gearing up to record again
- Riding 10,293 miles in 11 days 9 hours during the Hoka Hey Challenge
- Entrepreneurship talk: shedding distractions, handling stress, and treating setbacks as lessons—not failures
📲 Connect with Craig Johnson and Wild Ass
- Craig's Instagram: @WildassCraig
- Website: Wild-Ass.com
- Wild Ass on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.
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