The AE86 has been greatly overrated by weebs though, let’s be real.
Not sure there is a real point. Its more a style of play that developed as tricks and yoyos really began to evolve. Its a reference to the yoyo renaissance time period between 1998ish and 2004ish. This is where the transition between responsive and unresponsive happened in mainstream yoyo. Complex string tricks were being created on responsive yoyos cuz before that unresponsive wasn’t even a thing, and players developed ways to reduce response to be less snaggy but also still be able to get a tug retun. Even adjusting play so that the harder snaggy elements were at the end of a trick so lower spin speeds would keep snags away. Yoyo companies also responded to that change, creating wider gaps, experimenting with different response designs, recessing pads, etc.
I found it required alot of maintenance to get in the sweet spot of unresponsive but not too unresponsive, and got used to landing tricks in a range of a little too responsive to just barely responsive enough. For the most part I still find the value in it as learning to be a more adaptable and smoother player. Your technique smooths out when you have to actively keep the string from snagging during the trick. The yoyo can punish you if you’re not doing it clean enough.
Still, im in my 40s now and enjoy not bashing my hands alot while playing unresponsive. I feel my play style is based on learning most of my foundational trick set on responsives and semi responsives during that midschool period. I sometimes can see it when players don’t have this more oldschool background in thier style. Usually they can land insanely difficult tricks i don’t know and am far from landing, but combos tend to be a little jumpy or lack flow between elements.
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deep state is only “semi responsive” when its lubed with thin lube. add thick lube and you’ll get the response you’re after. the deep state is one of my all time favorite responsives.
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Yeah i just hate the way thick lube kills your bearings spin time. So i try to find workarounds first before resorting to that. My most ideal workaround is just modding it out, but thick string is working for now so no need to go there yet.
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Eeeeh i don’t know… they really are great cars. They have their place for sure m, but in that place… they really are so good. I have an AW11 mr2 which has the same engine and basically is an 86 but with the engine in the middle. So i kinda sorta speak from personal experience. But i have a friend with like four 86. Overpriced? 100% yes but i honestly believe they live up to the hype.
People act like they’re legitimate sports cars, when they’re just not… They’re great for what they are, but what they are is a 40 year old economy car and not worth the current market value at all without the Initial D aura.
I think your MR2 is a way better car, but which is worth more?
I agree with you there. Mr2 is a MUCH better car, it just can’t drift like the 86 and is worth less than half. Lol but the AW11 destroys an 86 around the track. But a lightweight, low power, manual everything rwd super balanced car… 86 is pretty much up there as one of the best. I like grip driving though so… AW11 is my choice all day.
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Update!
Skip the Deep State. Skip the Slim Jim. Just roll with a TimCor Productions Starfire and thank me later lol.
I know we all love one drop but ive discovered i prefer my Starfire BY FAR still. I won mine during MRM 
. Way more snappy, can play responsive and unresponsive, and the hubstacks mage it fidget and finget spin friendly.
I actually like my slim jim more than my deep state still. It is easier to tape measure with, the dimple makes pull starts easier (without different side effects for the deep state maybe?) AND i even like to run my slim jim unresponsive sometimes for the challenge.
The deep state is cool but the only fun part is that i can customize it with side effects. So it is probably better pocket fodder to carry in public more than the best slimine yoyo I have.
Shoot, i prefer the Kasm over it being honest. But it can warp in the florida sun since its 3D printed so it stays home. Guess the deep state either rolls with me daily or hits the BST.
Its not exactly for sale yet, but if anyone wants it i dont mind entertaining a random offer for it. Or maybe a trade.
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Semi-responsive yoyos are a great way to develop your anti knuckle-buster reflexes 
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I run thick lube in mine. I prefer a predictable snappy response.
I don’t like Semi-Responsive very much… it’s like playing unresponsive, just with a handicap. I know that everyone has their own opinions. But mine is: “Go all in on response, or all out… but preferably all in. 
”
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I think semi-responsive yo-yos are supposed to generate semi-responsive enthusiasm.
I think semi-responsive yo-yos…. Responsive yo-yos… completely unresponsive yo-yos… offstring yo-yos…. They’re sorta like different flavors of Ice Cream.
You just give em all a few tries and gravitate towards the one that ‘clicks’ for you.
I don’t care the least bit for either semi or fixed axle responsive play.
But that being said, I could sit around for hours watching Doc Pop and Ed do either.
As a spectator, I am much more entertained watching people do things I can’t do.
A few things I ‘do’ like about semi and non responsive play, is that sloppy play delivers swift punishment, lol. I don’t think either style is geared towards anyone with lazy movements or inability to ‘focus’.
Semi-responsive is a Challenge you ‘Step up to’.
In any Major contest, in the 1A division, there may be 60+ entrants.
If…… you were at a Contest and it had a semi-responsive division and you saw 60+ players…. That could mean only one thing>
You are asleep and having an unbelievable dream…
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wait til they overhype the GT86 & GR86 in a few years due to MF GHOST
OH wait is already happening
New update. I doubt people care but i sorta like documenting my journey with these yoyos. Its actually kind of fun how i feel about them after prolonged use.
The Deep State has become one of my two EDC yoyos. I run it with fat string and 8 gram brass side effects. I like the way the extra weight gives the yoyo enough power to zip back with the fat string instead of a flat out semi responsive feel.
I made it one if my EDCs because i dont mind beating it up and it fits in as a perfect responsive along with an unresponsive Magic Yoyo v10 (i chose it for the finger spin ability and all around solid build).
Among my slim lines i probably like it as much as my slim jim. I prefer the slim jim for grinds and tape measure tricks.
I will say, like I mentioned in an earlier post, the TimCor Starfire is the best modern responsive i have. It is sooo good compared to these two, and the hub stacks just give it a bit of extra play and fidgetness that is honestly lost without hubstacks. I am not a huge hubstack guy, but i do love them on my responsives there is almost no reason not to have em.
In the end, i wanted to make this post to say I at least found a way to run the deep state that i actually like. The 8 added grams is a lot so it loses some of that light feeling i get with the flat caps, but it gains torque and zip that I think helps it a ton.
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Part of the fun for me is Tinkering to get the yoyo to play to my liking. As said, there is a lot that can be done with String Type/Thickness. Even Thin Lube can add enough response to get the yoyo to react the way you want. Thick lube if you need more…
One idea for you; Try some spike side effects in the Deep State? You can get some of the play you enjoy with the Hubstacks, but without the hubstacks.
Have Fun.
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Yeah I was thinking about picking up a spike. Maybe during one of these future orders.