Vital specs:

• Weight: 67g
• Width: 43.18mm
• Trapeze width: 40.64mm
• Gap width: 4.5mm
• Diameter: 55.88mm
• Bearing: clean & dry ABEC-5 stainless steel
• Response: custom Silicone pads – compatible with K-pads, flowable, etc.

More pics on the Chico Yo-Yo Company Facebook page>>

Three color anodizing? Check.

Flames? Check.

Flames going the same way on both halves? Check.

Matte finish that grinds great? Check.

Final assembly and packing in the next week.

80 total pieces produced.

Available at:

Rewind

YoYoExpert.com

Bird in Hand

YoYoZ

Chico Yo-Yo Company Route 66

After several extra weeks of deliberation, and almost 300 suggestions (thanks to everyone who helped on this one) for the name for this yo-yo, we present to you the Route 66.

Let me set the scene for you.

Picture yourself in a classic American car. Windows down, warm sun is shining, cool breeze blowing through. Turn the key for the ignition and a low rumble ensues. A big V8 engine with more power than you could hope for has just rumbled to life, you can feel that the engine just wants to get this thing going.

Put it into gear. Lay on the gas. Tires are just on the verge of loosing traction. Feel yourself get pushed back in the seat. Hang onto the steering wheel.

The asphalt becomes a blur as you approach cruising speed on the open road and highway stretches out before you. Rounding some corners through the countryside, you can feel the weight of the car pushing on the road. This aint no lightweight-carbon-fiber-low-pro-turbo-9k-rpm dancer, this is solid American iron and proud of it. Hours pass with a smile on your face as you enjoy every minute of the ride.

Time for a break. Glide into the roadside diner.

Notice that the other folks a the diner are checking out your ride. Those details in the trim, clean lines, and the feel that there is something special, but can’t quite say why.

This is the feel of the classic American car – a car with power, weight, and style.

The Route 66 is our testament to this feel. A yo-yo that you will enjoy for hours on end, pushing through the strings, stable, powerful, imminently familiar, and smooth.

Specs:

• Weight – 68g
• Diameter – 2.1″ or 53.34mm
• Width – 1.6″ or 40.64mm
• Trapeze Width – 34.54mm
• Gap width – 4.5mm
• Bearing – Large (0.25×0.5x.1875″) ABEC-5 stainless, clean and dry
• Response – Custom cut silicone pads, deep groove for flowable silicone

First run in red and gold is limited to 45 pieces.

Profile is a deep-V style with the extra rim detailing that give this a shape hinting toward the H-profile. We choose to keep the finish on this run clean. Our local anodizing facility did a great job on the seal which actually makes grinding quite nice without the common “hot” feel that a blasted surface can impart – that and the shine just looks good. There is an undercut lip for inner-ring grinds if that’s your thing too.

Rim weight? Got ya covered. Lots of it. Stable and long spinning.

Smooth? Every yo-yo is hand tested and is not sent out unless it is super smooth.

Good bearing? You bet. ABEC-5 rated, stainless steel, clean and dry.

Response? We have custom cut clear silicone pads to put into those grooves, or you can use flowable silicone if that is your preference. You get some extra pads too.

Route 66 – enjoy the ride.

Give me a name!

Just off the lathe, original working name was the Whitewall. Somehow that name just doesn’t do it. We would love to hear your suggestions for a name.

We went a little bigger on this one, and a little heavier based on local player input.

Slight H-style stepped profile with some additional trim features to give this a unique look, and allows for lots of rim weight. A notable undercut on the inner aspect of the rim allows for easy grinds.

Here’s the specs:

Diameter: 2.1in or 53.3mm
Width: 1.6in or 40.6mm
Weight: 68g
String gap: 4.5mm
Bearing size: Large (.500x.250x.1875)
Response: Large size narrow silicone pad (or flowable silicone)

While you’re at it, drop up some input on the colors in this post too.

Thanks!

Update: March 17 > Comments are now closed. We’ll take today to list all the names and come to a final decision later today or tomorrow. Then the first small batch goes to get laser engraved this Friday.

Post a comment on the following colors:

Colorway #1:

A green and yellow marble.

Very bright.

Think springtime.

Think new plants, new growth.

Colorway #2:

Yellow and blue marble

The blue is more of a royal blue with hints of deep purple coloring.

Yellow is a lighter shade.

Think sunshine and deep blue skies.

Colorway #3:

This is a blue-green marble is very bright, like number 1.

The blue is a light blue to almost aqua coloring.

Green is a light green.

Think oceans seen from above.

Colorway #4:

Green-Brown marble.

The green is very bright.

Brown is a milk chocolate color.

Think mint-chip ice cream.

Colorway #5

Three colors combine to make this one. Yellow, to orange to black.

Large marbling.

Feels very elegant.

Think burled wood.

Got one that is your favorite? Post a comment below and let us know which is your favorite.

Thanks!

delToro - Face View

Just in from the laser engraver, the finished delToro yo-yo.

Like the Bullog, these are precision machined in Chico, CA with the anodizing, laser engraving, and beadblasting also done here in Chico.

delToro - Profile

The profile is a deep-V design to reduce string contact during off-plane play. The deep-V has a slightly curved surface (instead of flat or stepped back profile) for a comfortable and progressive amount of string contact to assist with rejection style tricks. Notably absent is a stub for the axle to sink into – we utilized a very short axle to allow for a flat outer face which gives this a distinctive look.

Sporting a 50.6mm diameter, the delToro is a smaller and nimble yo-yo great for intricate string tricks and chopsticks style play. At 38mm wide, the delToro is wide enough to land many risky maneuvers and narrow enough to not get in the way – a nice, comfortable combination. The string gap measures out at 4.5mm allowing plenty of layers of string to be applied but avoiding the uncomfortable kickback and slow feel associated with exceptionally wide gaps.

The bearing is a large, precision cleaned stainless steel ABEC-5 bearing. This bearing is totally dry to allow for long spin times and will require a bind to return to the hand.

delToro - Bearing

Halves of the yo-yo are beadblasted inside and out with the finest grade beads available. Near the bearing, we masked off the halves during blasting to ensure a smooth and trouble free surface for the string. This fine beadblast makes for an extremely smooth surface for grind style tricks and also gives the delToro a soft appearance. The inner ring region is slightly beveled which allows inner ring grinds on fingertips to be accomplished easily.

Response is accomplished with silicone pads. As much as we love flowable silicone, there is something to be said for the ease of application and consistency of an adhesive backed pad. We purchased and installed the yellow silicone K-pads from our local retailer, so those of you familiar with that response will be right at home – and the yellow pads look pretty cool too. But if you prefer flowable silicone or the pads from another source (like the YoYoJam silicone, or Alchemy pads), the groove accommodates those options just fine – this way you have the flexibility to use what you want.

delToro - Three Colorways

The colors for this anodization batch turned out great. We have black, purple, and a deep red. Seems like getting the camera to capture the red and the purple correctly has been a challenge. The purple looks a little deeper in color (to my eyes) than the picture to the right, as does the red.

A small quantity of the delToro is currently available at Bird in Hand in Chico. E-mails will be heading out to most of the major online retailers shortly – if you don’t see the delToro at your favorite retailer, let us know how to get in touch with them.

delToro Colors

Just in from the anodizer, three color options for the delToro. Red, black, and purple. Finely beadblasted on the body and outer face for great feel and grinding, with the bearing seat and string contact region precisely masked off to prevent string wear.

Now, off to the laser…

del Toro

Working name: del Toro

We are working on two new shapes, one a small departure from the Bulldog shape – adding a little bit of extra width and dropping an angular profile into the mix with a deep-V shape. The deep-V shaping reduces string contact during play to help increase spin times and keep the yo-yo on plane instead of being deflected off the string during intricate or layered maneuvers. Instead of a flat or somewhat recessed body, the subtle rounded angle of the deep-V allows a progressive and consistent amount of string contact during rejection style tricks where a reliable amount of friction helps with execution of the trick.

Planned stats for the del Toro:

• Width: 1.52in
• Diameter: 1.992in
• Gap width: 4.5mm
• Weight: 65g

Whitewall

Working name: Whitewall

The second new profile features a deep-V with extra rim weighting drawing from a stepped profile. For added aesthetic, the stepped profile gets some extra edge treatments to give this one a unique look.

Planned stats for the “Whitewall”

• Diameter = 2.1 inches or 53.34mm
• Width = 1.6 inches (40.64mm)
• Gap width: 4.5mm
• Weight: 67g
• Bearing size: Large

Bulldog at yoyoz.co.uk

Bulldog at euro-yo.com

Got word yesterday that the blue Bulldogs have arrived in the European market!

For those of you living in Europe, you now have access to two fine online retailers to get your Chico Yo-Yo Company goodies. Both shops received the new, blue and violet marbled colorway with the new laser engraved artwork on the sides.

YoYoz.co.uk and Euro-yo.com

Bulldog in Blue/Violet Marble

Released in Chico for the U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest, we had a new color of the Bulldog produced. This time we chose a bright blue with violet marbling. It came out looking absolutely gorgeous. The bright blue really stands out and is easy to be seen while performing.

After much searching locally, we were able to find a facility to perform laser engraving so the artwork on the side has a new look. The original lettering was machine engraved but the laser engraving gives more flexibility in the design options – we hope you like the change.

Bulldog - Finish Comparison

The hand finished pinstripe edge detail is back. This finishing touch adds a unique and distinctive look to the yo-yo.

Returning again on this release are the two different finishes. The shiny finish which truly sets off the appearance of the marbled anodize finish which has been preferred by the collector and connoisseur while the beadblasted finish has proven to be the preference for the competitive focused player as the finish grinds better on the finger. The blasted finish again is only where it matters so the textured area will not contact the string and cause premature wear or breaking.

Back again are the precision cleaned ABEC-5 stainless steel bearings for very long spin time. Hand applied silicone for response, and a very wide string gap.

The blue color way is currently available at Bird in Hand, YoYoGuy.com, and will be shipping next week to Euro-Yo and YoYoZee.

Enjoy!