Whether they’re popping wheelies on the street or gassing up at the nearby Chevron, you can’t escape the presence of motorcycle riders.

SF State’s motorcycle community is apparent by the many students walking around campus with books in one hand and a helmet in the other, and the dozens of motorcycles lined up at 19th and Holloway.

Motorcycle riding is popular at SF State partly because it is a commuter campus. However, these motorcyclists own different types of bikes and ride for different reasons. Some are truly passionate about their craft, while some simply want to take advantage of being able to park where no car has parked before.

“As soon as I rode my first bike I fell in love with it,” said Pablo Cusi Jr., a 24-year-old junior.

In middle school, Cusi and his best friend promised that they would get motorcycles when they got older. When Cusi got rid of his Chevy Camaro in 2003, he needed something to replace its speed, so when his friend was selling his Suzuki GSXR 750, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be its new owner.

He now owns a 2002 Yamaha R1, which boasts a 1000 cc engine, the most powerful type used in sport bikes.

His favorite motorcycle pastime is performing tricks, otherwise known as “stunting.” Even when he’s by himself, Cusi performs stand-up wheelies just to see how long he can hold them.

“I’m testing myself all the time,” said Cusi.

Cusi has a newfound respect for motorcycle riders. Before, he would never let them cut in between lanes. Now he acknowledges them on the road, whether he's riding his motorcycle or not.

“Riders have this respect for each other that car drivers just don’t have,” said Cusi.

Pavel Guevarra, a 25-year-old civil engineering senior, said he agrees.

He recently bought a Suzuki GSXR 600 last August and immediately noticed other motorcyclists going out of their way to acknowledge him on the road.

“They’ll be riding in the opposite direction, four lanes over, and still make an effort to wave,” said Guevarra. “I rode a bicycle one time and waved to another bicyclist and got no response.”

Guevarra also noticed that being a rider allowed him to reacquaint himself with old friends he had lost touch with who also rode motorcycles.

Although Guevarra’s main reason for buying a motorcycle was to find better parking around campus, he said he also enjoys riding for recreational purposes.

“I like to ride in the morning, right after it rains,” said Guevarra. “It’s refreshing.”

For motorcyclists like Hollie Hardy, a 29-year-old creative writing junior, riding is in the blood. She grew up working on bikes with her father. Her 11 years of riding experience serve her well when she rides her Honda GTR 1000 fast through the Berkeley hills and curvy roads, known as "twisties."

Because riding is a widely male-dominated activity, women riders are sometimes labeled as "dykes on bikes," or "bitches on the back." However, Hardy said she believes she defies these assumptions and stereotypes and hopes to inspire more women to ride.

"In time, with more and more women on two wheels, the awe over 'biker chicks' wanes, and the distinction between male and female riders will dissolve into just plain ‘riders,’” Hardy said.

For Hardy, riding is a lifestyle. Being a biker means that jeans and boots must replace skirts and flip-flops in a woman's wardrobe. Although Hardy has crashed before, she said she has never considered giving up motorcycling.

Hardy compared learning how to ride a motorcycle to learning any new skill, like playing a musical instrument or dancing. She explained that she had to think about a lot of different things all at once while riding, such as how fast she was going, what gear she was in, and what the car next to her was doing.

"In time, your body memorizes the motions," said Hardy. "Eventually, you don't have to think consciously about how to control the beast; you just look in the direction you want to go and your body and the bike do the rest."