RIO by yoyofriends! - yoyofriends’ Best-Performing Plastic Yo-Yo! - Available Monday - 03/24 - 8pm ET!

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The Rio is Yoyofriends’ answer to the ultimate machined plastic yo-yo. After the retirement of the Dove, there was a gap in their lineup for a high-performance plastic throw. While the AoE was a step forward, its injection-molded design leaned toward beginner to intermediate play. The Rio takes things to the next level with precision-machined polycarbonate, offering a durable and cost-effective alternative to Delrin while maintaining a smooth, refined feel close to that of a monometal.

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Inspired by the Dove and AoE, the Rio keeps a comfortable diameter while increasing width for a wider catch zone and added power. The weight has been adjusted for improved stability and spin time, while the new slanted bead-blasted metal fingerspin hub enhances control and performance. After the first prototype impressed players, Yoyofriends took it further, removing the center spacer to deepen the fingerspin hub and pushing even more weight to the rims for maximum stability. The result is a yo-yo that delivers the power and control of a competition monometal with the fun and versatility of a plastic throw.

Rio
At just $25, the Rio is an unbeatable blend of performance and value. With weight distribution rivaling a monometal and incredible fingerspin capabilities, it’s perfect as both an everyday carry and a serious competition throw. Yoyofriends’ best-performing plastic yo-yo yet is here—experience the Rio!

11 Likes

I’m pretty new to yoyoing and only have a couple of throws to compare, so I’m still figuring things out. I just got my YoYoFriends Rio in the mail, and I’m running into a weird issue. Whenever I throw it and give it a little tug, it snaps back like it’s responsive. I’ve tried swapping out strings and even switched to a different unresponsive bearing, but the problem persists.

Could it be a bearing issue, response pads, or something else I’m overlooking? Any advice would be appreciated!

2 Likes

Just got one today as well, mine’s very very lightly semi-responsive. It’s probably just the pads need to be broken in and played with a little. That happens sometimes with new throws. You can also look at the pads themselves to make sure they are seated in the groove well and not sticking out too far.

In general, it’s an excellent throw so far. Liking this a lot. Grinds are crazy good for a plastic as well.

1 Like