Octavia Up Close Part 1/3: NSK Micro Platinum DS

Sometimes there comes a product in the yoyo world that really blows me away. Its pretty rare that this happens - because its all been done. I watched as yoyos moved from plastic to aluminum. Then came the O-ring response, and silicone response. And as manufacturing standards got higher and prices got lower - it hit a plateau. There was no better or worse anymore. There was just different. Almost every aspect had been covered - Almost.

I was sitting in the SLUSNY Yoyo shop in Prague, CZ about a month ago. Vashek was there, packing his daily orders and I was there eating my beautiful Czech lunch and likely making a mess everywhere. I saw one of his throws on the table and decided to try it out. "Thats the one I use on stage". I threw it, and something was different about it. It was dead silent. There was no string vibration - It felt something like a cushion of air. I could feel it was more than just the design of the yoyo.

I looked in the gap and saw the weird angles on the bearing. I knew what it was instantly, and, embarrassingly, it was the first time I really tried it. The Japanese made NSK Micro Platinum DS bearing. I was blown away - that something as simple as a bearing made the world of a difference. I got one off of him, and threw it in the Octavia prototype. Instantly, everything changed.

It was incredible. Although other bearings were marginally better than each other, this was leaps and bounds ahead of the next best thing. It was almost instantly that I knew the performance oriented Octavia needed it. I often say that the Evora was very aesthetics focused. The design of the shape. The weight distribution of that huge nub. And it would be a lie if I didn't pick out that beautiful pearl white ceramic bearing for just its waterproof cleaning conveniences. But with the upcoming Octavia release, it calls for unsacrificed, unadulterated performance.

And NSK answered.