I’m really pleased with the One Drop product offerings. It just depends on your wants, needs, desires and perhaps portability. Some of their models are small, some are full sized. All are excellent in their own ways.
The Cafe Racer and Burnside shave price without sacrificing performance by not using the Side Effects axle system, so the weight is what it is. It does limit your options, but then again, how many other brands are doing something line this? It’s patented, so exactly NOBODY is doing this. Other companies use weight rings, either optional or included.
I have the following in my possession:
Code 1, 54, MMN and Dietz. A Cafe Racer is coming in any day now. A Burnside and Code 2 has been secured, leaving me to obtain a Dang, which I will at BAC(I hope). It really comes down to what you think you will like. It also comes down to preferences as well.
A friend I trust told me about the Burnside, and the only reason he sold me his is because he got a second one and had to sell the first. He also has tested the Code 2, and based on his recommendation, I’ve managed to secure a Code 2 now too.
The MMN and Dietz are undersized and play amazing. The MMN seems a bit smoother to me, but I thing that’s due to it’s more smooth shape rather than the H-type profile of the Deitz. Both are amazing though. The MMN does not use side effects though.
The Code 1 forces the weight to the outer rims, making extremely smooth and stable and is like “all catch zone”.
The 54 is more organic in shape, but I think may also be out of production. It’s a great yoyo, a great shape and a great feel, but it’s more of the “typical yoyo shape”, which isn’t a bad thing.
Of your choices, I have 2 of them currently and am waiting on the third. I can’t see either being bad choices at all. But, at the same time, all are different. It’s hard to compare dissimilar shapes with different performance aspects, even within the same brand. They are good. If you want undersized, Dietz. If you want full sized with options, Code 1. If you’re fine with a fixed configuration and a full size, Burnside. Really, the biggest concern you have to worry about is size.