THE BEGINNING
HOW IT STARTED
Clearview Shields started with a simple problem: stock windshields weren’t built for real riders.
They were too short, too tall, too loud, or just not right for the way people actually rode. Craig Stenger started building shields himself — not because he set out to run a manufacturing company, but because he wanted a windshield that actually worked for his bike and his ride.
That first shield led to another. Then another. Word got around among riders who were tired of settling for whatever came stock on their bike. What started as one guy solving his own problem turned into a business built on solving it for everyone else, too.
1988
THE BREAK
THAT PUT US ON THE MAP
In 1988, Clearview Shields got its first real break. After Vetter Corporation halted production, we were added to their referral list and began manufacturing and distributing replacement windshields to dealerships across the country — covering their entire fairing lineup.
Our dealer network grew quickly, and revenue climbed well beyond anything we’d seen before. That’s when we knew Clearview could actually work as a business, not just a passion project.
“Ironically, we bought our first major touring bike — a Honda GL1000 — with a Vetter Windjammer fairing already attached.”
The Science Behind the Fit
STUDYING AIRFLOW AT
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
From the beginning, the goal was always to actually help the rider — not just sell a windshield. Working directly with motorcyclists on their specific bikes became the best part of the business.
To go deeper, Craig spent weekends at the Wind Engineering and Fluids Laboratory (WEFL) at Colorado State University, learning how different shapes influence airflow with the help of faculty and students there.
Motorcycles turned out to be some of the hardest shapes to design for. Every fairing creates its own airflow dynamics, and every rider has a different body style and different expectations of what a windshield should do for their ride. Each new design challenge deepened our understanding of motorcycling ergonomics.
RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION
A FAMILY
RAISED IN THE SHOP
1991 brought our first child, Brandon — the moment Clearview Shields began to become a true family-owned business. In 1994, our second son, Ryan, arrived.
Throughout it all, we never sent our kids to daycare — we brought them to work. As they grew up, they were immersed in motorcycling, both through the business and as a way of life.
We attended motorcycle shows together as a family and vended at even more. The boys were always with us, growing up around the bikes, the customers, and the craft. Ryan has helped at rallies for years — answering customer questions and installing windshields on-site.
Where They Are Today
THE NEXT
GENERATION
Ryan Stenger
For nearly his entire life, Ryan Stenger has been part of Clearview Shields. Growing up in the shop, he learned the business from the ground up—helping at motorcycle rallies, working alongside his parents in manufacturing, assisting customers, and gaining firsthand knowledge of what riders expect from a windshield.
Today, Ryan serves as Vice President of Clearview Shields, where he leads product development while continuing the company’s tradition of designing rider-focused windshields. His work has resulted in some of Clearview’s most successful products, including windshields for the Indian Scout, Honda Gold Wing, BMW R18, and the highly acclaimed Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST.
Like his father, Ryan combines real-world riding experience with customer feedback and continuous product testing to develop windshields that improve comfort, visibility, and long-distance touring performance. As Clearview Shields looks to the future, he remains committed to preserving the company’s family values, American manufacturing, and reputation for engineering some of the finest aftermarket motorcycle windshields available.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that no two riders are the same. That’s why we continue to offer multiple heights and widths instead of expecting riders to adapt to a one-size-fits-all windshield.”
Brandon Stenger – U.S.Air Force Captain
While Ryan Stenger grew up to lead product development, his brother Brandon chose a different path of service — graduating from the Air Force Academy and advancing to the rank of Major. Different roads, same family standard.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
THE STANDARD
WE BUILD TO
A few principles that haven’t changed since 1986.
01
Quality Over Shortcuts
Every shield is built to a standard, not to a price point.
02
MADE IN THE USA
Every shield is cut, formed, and finished in Fort Collins — not imported, not outsourced.
03
BUILT TO ORDER
Nothing sits pre-made on a shelf. Your shield is manufactured specifically for your bike after you order it.
04
REAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH RIDERS
We’d rather spend five minutes on the phone getting your order right than rush you through a checkout.
TODAY
STILL IN COLORADO .
STILL BY HAND.
Nearly forty years later, we’re still in Colorado, still building shields by hand, and still answering the phone ourselves.
We’ve helped well over 200,000 riders find the right shield — but the way we do it hasn’t changed much from where we started.
