RIO
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.
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.
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!
Replacable LED Lights for Rio (Sold Separately)
Find the Light-Up Versions Here!
56.21
Diameter (mm)
48.11
Width (mm)
66.6
Weight (grams)
Product specs:
RIO by yoyofriends specifications are as follows:
Size C (.250 x .500 x .187)
Slim Pad Size 19mm OD
- SLSzabo L.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars2 months agonice
nice
- LLaurenRated 5 out of 5 stars4 months ago5 Stars
Looks great! Fast shipping! Thanks!
- NNameRated 4 out of 5 stars8 months agoGreat, just one thing
The light up RIO is very high performance, the gestalt experience is overall very pleasing. It has a very high stability and holds up well in horizontal and high performance combos. The only fault I give it is that the lights come on at random times and sometimes are hard to turn off, as I do not always have a magnet on me. Overall a great yoyo I would even be willing to compete with
- YyellowmixRated 5 out of 5 stars9 months agoBest Light-Up
I got the LED version, no experience with the regular one. The LEDs as far as I can tell don't hinder performance or balance. From a usability point of view, it's a great yoyo for a beginner ready for unresponsive. It's not as stable as a Speedaholic XX, but stable enough, controllable, fast, and fun. It's a marked improvement over the AOE.
The LED system is well-designed. Each LED array sits in a round cavity in the rim, so they help weight distribution while creating the largest possible lit circle when spinning. LEDs have four states: always on, blinking, and "breathing" where it dims slowly, and off. A swipe with the supplied magnet switches states. I found my magnetized screwdriver works, so weak magnets will work.
There's a pressure-fit cap securely holding in each LED array. It helps to have the removal tool, which is a screwdriver that helps prevent stripping the threads. I needed to use tweezers to pull the array out. Each array uses two AG1 batteries that can be easily replaced. I'm glad yoyofriends offers LED replacement kits, since I can see the cap threads being stripped over time. But since the lights aren't always on, they should last a while.
- LDLogan D.Rated 4 out of 5 stars9 months agoGood finish for grinding
Bearing is responsive out of the box. Otherwise I would give 5 out of 5. Good finish for grinding