couch rocket

n. a large, luxurious motorcycle, typically ridden by an older rider. Subjects: English, Automobiles & Transportation, Slang

Etymological Note: A play off crotch rocket ‘a small, fast motorcycle.’

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Citations: 2000 [culprit] Usenet: rec.motorcycles (Oct. 6) “Re: Most Comfortable Crotch Rocket?”: What’s your definition of a “crotch rocket”? my friend calls his VFR800 a “couch rocket,” it’s amazingly comfy. probably depends on your build too. 2004 [allwalk] @ Toronto, Can. BurgmanUSA.com (May 1) “Hello from Georgia”: You can refer to the 650 as a couch rocket, but don’t tell your wife. 2005 Don Roberts @ Naperville, Ill. PowerSports Network (Feb. 26) “The Couch Rocket!”: The Couch Rocket!…My wife thought I was nuts when I bought an ’04 Spirit 1100. Before I knew it, she was hooked as a co-rider. Then we found the Wing. It’s simply an unbelievable machine. It does everything you ask and has plenty left with amazing creature comforts. I took it to a sport rider training class (filled with 20 year olds on crotch rockets) and this old man (52) kept up fine. 2006 Jim Cleek Mobile Gadget News (Mar. 30) “Journal Bar”: I ride motorcycles. Often called a couch rocket, my HD Electra Glide Ultra Classic is an RV on two wheels. It is the essence of two wheeled comfort.

Posted 6 Apr 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Crotch Rocket to my understanding is a ‘spin off’ from the term ‘rice rocket’. Though ‘rice rocket’ has been coined to mean any zippy little Japanese car (or zippy wannabe), the term ‘Crotch Rocket’ came out of the ‘need’ to define the typically over-powered Japanese motor bikes. My brother is a HARD CORE BIKER, so any use of the term, on his part, is assumed to be more correct than the definition as provided here.

by Mitchell C 06 Apr 06, 1118 GMT

I commented on ‘crotch rocket’ because neither my brother nor I have heard of ‘couch rockets’. I know I should have posted to ‘crotch rocket’ but I didnt’ make it that far. SORRY ALREADY!

by Mitchell C 06 Apr 06, 1121 GMT

I really don’t have a dirty mind, but when I was in college, a “couch rocket” refered to a really desperate guy falling on a sofa with his date. ‘Nuff said!”

by Bob Garretson 23 Apr 06, 0902 GMT