Another typical characteristic is the ability to travel at extreme speeds with explosive acceleration. A typical sport bike can accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) about or under 3 seconds. Some sports bikes can top out at approximately 260 km/h (160 mph).

Superbikes, which are another type of sports bike, can have top speeds well above 200 mph but recently have been limited through the use of a rev limiter to the speed of 186mph (around 300 km/h) in accordance to a Gentlemen's agreement between the main sport bike manufacturers.

 Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati, Aprilia, and Buell are the main manufacturers of sport bikes, although Buell are yet to produce a sports bike. In 1999 Suzuki produced a GSX-1300R Hayabusa capable of reaching 100 mph in first gear, and 190 mph (310 km/h)off the production line. The Kawasaki ZX-10R, for example, is a 1000 cc sportbike capable of exceeding 100 mph in first gear, as well as a top speed at or above 186 mph without any modifications. These bikes can do a quarter mile at or under 10 sec. The 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 (stock) can reach 100 km/h under 2.5 seconds and does a quarter mile in a little over 9 second.