Thread: '08 888 Shootout...Which One's for You? (LOTS OF PICS...Beware!)

*Disclaimer*
In no way do I claim to be the best of reviewers, nor the most experienced. I have almost 5 months of yoyoing under my belt, but I learn fast and would like to think that I know enough to make a proper and informative review. My reviews are very opinionated, so experiences may differ from one player to another. With that out of the way, on to the review.

The original 888 was the 8th installment of the YoYo Factory Project Red Alert series of high performance yoyos. It offered silicone response, a miniscule H-Profile, a small yet comfortable shape, and a gap you could sail a boat through. Then came other renditions such as the highwall and small bearing versions. Along with the smooth, stable, high performance, and many different limited edition colors, the 888 easily became a highlight in any Yoer's collection.

In comes the '08 888, the second installment in the 888 trilogy. Growth is a big theme with this yoyo, which I'll explain throughout the review. One of the main offerings in this release is that it comes in two different flavors: Large and Small bearing...YUMMMM. It offers the same shape as the original 888, but with a few adjustments/improvements. First off, here are some, well, a lot of pics for you to browse through and compare.



And finally, a Wii-Mote pic. Oh yes, Mario likes the 08



Appearance

You'll notice first off that YYF decided to deviate away from the color anodizing offered by the original 888. The finish is raw, straight out of the machine, but with a high luster/polish. The high luster is due to YYF's decision to step up a metal grade which results in a stronger and shinier frame. You'll also notice that it doesn't exactly have a mirror finish. Machine lines are visible which, in my opinion, give the yoyo some character. You'll actually have fun throwing the 08 rather than worrying about scuffing up a mirror finish or a fine satin job (i.e. TFL, Oxy4, etc). The 08 sports laser engravings on both the rims and inner hubs. A new 888 logo along with clear hubs makes this yoyo look a bit more elegant than its older blue brother.

Shape/Feel In Hand

The 08 888 feels very solid in your hand. Its small diameter gives you a sense of control, and it's width allows for a little more leverage in your fingers. Its slight H-Profile adds to the stability which is already exemplified by the profile of the 08; more weight towards the rims calls for a more stable and free spinning yoyo.

Guts/Bearing/Response

Each come with dorothy bearings in both the center axle and the hubstacks. This makes for quiet and unresponsive yoyoing. The large bearing was a bit noisier than the small bearing. After contacting Ben about it, the small bearing versions come pre-lubed as opposed to the cleaned large bearing version. One question that's been frequently asked prior to release is “Are the bearings the same width?” The answer is “No.” The small bearing is thinner than its large bearing counterpart, and this causes the small bearing version to have a narrower gap (something that yo'ers may find better).

One thing I noticed was that the bearings sit differently in each yoyo. In the large bearing yoyo, the bearing actually “grabs” or “snaps” itself into place, and it stays there. It's reminiscent of how a YoYo Jam bearing lodges itself into the bearing seat. On the other hand, the small bearing fits loosely in its seat causing it to fall out when taking the yoyo apart. I'm an advocate of the bearing sitting itself firmly into the seat, just so that it's one less thing to worry about when taking apart your yoyo.

The new '08 888 has switched to a floating axle. It's engineered so that the axle doesn't need to be centered in order to have a stable yoyo. When I first opened the '08s, I noticed the axle wasn't screwed in all the way into either side of the yoyo. For my own personal preference, I screwed it hand tight into the side where the bearing sits (this had no effect on the stability of the yoyo).

The response is also different in each yoyo. The large bearing 08 comes stock with silicone o-pads. The recess is deeper, yet thinner giving the person less overall response room, which may prove to be a problem for some people when combined with the large gap. The small bearing 08 comes with Ghost Pads. It has a pad recess, which is shallower yet thicker, allowing for pad response systems. Oddly enough, this may prove to be too grabby when combined with the smaller gap of the small bearing version. I'd honestly like to see a standardized mixture of the two response systems. A deeper recess with accommodation for flowable silicone or pad response systems, just to add some flexibility and versatility to the yoyo.

Sleeper Mode

Large Bearing
Can we say smooth? The smoothness of the 08 rivals the Oxy4s, TFLs, G5s, etc. One thing I noticed about the 08 is that it's somewhat “self-stabilizing.” For instance, if I throw down a hard sleeper with some initial vibe, if I keep it down for a few seconds, I can literally see the 08 stabilizing itself. This is something I hadn't experienced with some of my prior plastics or metals. It could be that I just wasn't paying attention, and that yoyo's are designed to do that, but in this case, it had me leaping for joy. The 08 also offers a sense of solidness when you throw it down. It isn't so floaty that you lose feel, but it isn't so much like dead weight either. It's actually a nice mixture of feel and floatiness. Due to the width of the bearing and extra gap size, the large bearing is a little more prone to tilting due to the extra area that the string can land itself on. This can obviously be avoided with a well trained throw, or a KK or BC Grooved bearing.

Small Bearing
Cleaned or lubed, this version of the 08 is more smooth and stable than its large bearing counterpart. There isn't much room for the string to land, so when you throw, your string is more “center-oriented.” I mentioned with the large bearing version that it was somewhat “self-stabilizing,” that's less apparent with the small bearing version, though the small bearing lands more stable in the first place. The solidness is also apparent in this version, yet it seems a little more floaty than the other.

Play: How It Feels When Doing Tricks

Large Bearing
Ben announced that the 08 version would feature an adjusted weight distribution which would make the 08 feel heavier on the string though it is relatively the same weight as the original 888. As i said before, there's a good mixture between floatiness and feel with the 08. I can almost guide the 08 to where ever I want it to go. Swinging, Hopping, mounting, dismounting, it all feels very solid with the 08. Obviously, the extra gap space allows for more string layers. You won't have to worry about it binding on you mid trick, it's almost impossible unless you have a heavily lubed bearing. Also, people may like this version better with thicker string such as Highlights or Slick 6's as opposed to regular 100% white polys for easier binding. It's very stable and fast when flying through the air. The wide profile helps to catch/land the strings you want, and the small diameter helps to navigate in and around strings.

Small Bearing
Due to the smaller gap, a little more precision is required with this yoyo. It's a little less forgiving if you aren't swinging in straight lines which makes it a little more prone to tilting if your string is rubbing up against it too much. Despite that, it still feels like magic on a string. The solidness is still there, yet, it feels a little more floaty and lighter on the string than the large bearing version.

Gap/Snag Potential

The large bearing 08 comes dead unresponsive. As mentioned many times before, the gap on the large bearing 08 is similar to the original 888 in that it's one of the widest you'll ever find on a yoyo. It's sort of a love hate relationship. Some people love the performance of an 888, but that love comes to a halt after experiencing the wide gap that it has to offer. Yet, it does have its advantages. Have you ever done a reverse bind and felt cautious about your next throw because you just know it's gonna come right back at you due to the semi-tangliness? Well, the wider gap helps alleviate that apprehension as those semi-snags slip right through. Though, flick/snap re-starts are a little harder with the wider gap.

The small bearing 08 comes semi-responsive due to the stock, lubed bearing, and the narrower gap. The Ghost pads, which are known to be grabby, also add to the responsiveness of the small bearing version. Snags are almost non-existent with the large bearing version, while the small bearing version snags are more frequent. It's almost a 4 (small bearing) : 1 (large bearing) ratio.

Drop Test
Disclaimer: I, in no way, declare this to be the most scientific or accurate of tests. There are many factors that can alter this type of test. It's just another way to compare the two to help you with your decision between which 08 you think is right for you.

Method: With brand new string of equal length equipped to both versions, I wound up the yoyo as tight as possible (without it tied to my finger to keep neutral tension), and dropped the yoyo. With a stop watch, I timed from when the yoyo hit the end of the string, to the time it tilted over and completely stoped spinning.

Things to keep in mind:
Large bearing comes stock cleaned
Small bearing comes stock lubed
Different Sized Gaps



Graph Observation/Breakdown
Large Bearing Average: 66.54 sec
Small Bearing Average: 78.04

Out of the 10 drops, the small bearing achieved a higher spin time average though the deviations were more extreme. One thing I noticed was that each yoyo achieved its higher spin times when the string landed in the center of the bearing. Since the large bearing has a lot more space for the string to land, it didn't center itself as often as the small bearing did which somewhat relates to my previous observation of the small bearing version being more stable initially off the throw. Obviously, both are capable of some amazing spin times. Some people have trouble throwing 45 second sleepers with lower end yoyos, but that is somewhat irrelevant since it's all in the player and not the yoyo.

Other thoughts and observations



The 08 is very silent, and doesn't produce so much of the ringing noise that I've experienced with other metal yoyos. Grinding isn't so great with the finish on these yoyos, but the machined lines help a bit; much better than a mirror finished yoyo. Thumb grinding was surprising easy with the 08, the hubstacks actually provide leverage for your thumb. The dorothy hubstacks are very smooth, and relatively silent. The accessory pack was also a nice welcome. The 08 comes with an 888 badge, extra axle, pink highlight, extra hubstack o-rings, white gloves, and a blue pouch to keep your 08 in. I received different pouches with my two 08s which I thought was kinda weird, though I prefer the smaller one.

*UPDATE*
Do you have a large bearing 08 and want to make it super smooth and silent like the small bearing? Here's what I did: Take whatever lube you have, and basically douse both sides of the bearing with it, no need to take off shields. I personally used brain lube. Wait a couple of mins on each side for the lube to set through the shields. Repeat until you get pure silence and smoothness.

The large bearing 08 has a big enough gap that making it tug responsive by adding lube isn't so much of an issue. You'll get tug response every now and then (it will eventually go away after you break in the lube), but it isn't over bearing that it will hinder your play. What I have now is a large bearing 08 that plays just as smooth and silent as the small bearing 08, and binds are easier due to the lube. In fact, it is so enjoyable that I now prefer my large bearing 08 to the small bearing version. Thanks to David Ung for the tip =)


Final Summary

YoYo Factory '08 888 = Maserati GranTurismo



Maserati's slogan “Excellence Through Passion” is definitely portrayed with the '08 888. As we've seen before, YYF products go through revision after revision, with the product only showing improvement from its predecessor. Higher grade alloy, dorothy bearings throughout, laser engravings, and two different bearing sizes show the growth and evolution of the 888 into what it is today. The '08 888 portrays YYF's hard work and passion with solid and smooth play from both versions. If you want smooth and floaty play with easy binds, go with the small bearing version. If you want smooth play with a bit of feel and total unresponsiveness, go with the large bearing. Either way, you come out a winner as both yo's don't aim to disappoint.

I hope you enjoyed the review and found it very helpful in your decision on which '08 888 to get. Special thanks to Ben and the guys from YoYoFactory for making this review possible. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Ryan aka PixelMan

great review and pics, a rather long read but its all good for people that are considering spending $120 on a new yoyo.

This is a great review!

The pics are great, many angles, I love the graph drop test pic - though I'd like to say the drop test isn't fantastically reliable due to many factors and such.

If you have an original 888 a comparison would be good too if I ever got an 08 888 I'd do a comparison.

Originally Posted by sirjoux

This is a great review!

The pics are great, many angles, I love the graph drop test pic - though I'd like to say the drop test isn't fantastically reliable due to many factors and such.

If you have an original 888 a comparison would be good too if I ever got an 08 888 I'd do a comparison.

Yea, i know the drop test isnt all that great of a test, hence the disclaimer

If I had a regular 888 I'd do a comparison as well.

your reviews are pretty good mate :)

mgodinez has competition :P

I'd drop the "drop test" though, it doesnt really prove anything.

I'd get this if it wasnt so damn expensive...

awesome review! I myself have a small bearing 08. I wanted to try something different since I already have a large bearing aqua and highwall 888.

I seriously can barely feel it spin, it is extremely smooth even more so than my aqua and HW

If your only used to large bearings dont be afraid to take a chance and get a small bearing, you seriously wont regret it at all.

Thanks for the great review. I loved the pictures and the differentiation between the large and small bearing versions. I have an 888 which I agree is superb, I did put in a KK to keep the string centered. I find the Paul Wallace Intentus G String to work extremely well on this very wide gapped yoyo. I have an 08-888 that I haven't played yet, my wife wrapped it up and I have to wait for Christmas.

you have by far the most detailed reviews I have ever read...tons of pictures, tons of information, and topped off with a car comparison! I hope to see these reviews added to Yoyobox when you get it up and running, and I hope to still see them here as well!

Excellent review, Pix!

Most excellent!

I love the tags you put on the pics, including the banner and the border.
I always try to remind myself to do this, but always end up forgetting.

Very eye-pleasing review!


And...small bearing 888's are my fav. >:]

what WOULD be a good addition, is a few more comparisons to other yos that we can relate to.

It feels like such and such on the string, it plays like such and such

Great job! I love the little framing and logo on your pictures, it really ties it together. Can't wait for my 08 888 to get here. Curse the extra holiday postal traffic.

Originally Posted by macca

what WOULD be a good addition, is a few more comparisons to other yos that we can relate to.

It feels like such and such on the string, it plays like such and such

I thought about that, but then it would have just made my review even longer (it hits the 4th page in Microsoft Word =). I did however relate the smoothness to that of the TFL, Oxy, G5, etc.

Anyway, I'll try to do that more with future reviews. This review was to help you pick out which 08 you'd like best for yourself if you could only afford one of them.

Originally Posted by To><ikon

I like your reviews, but the horizontally stretched post (due to all the pictures) made it a pain to read. Maybe you could post the pictures in a few columns?

it's displaying vertically here for me...no left-to-right scrolling required at all...

wonder why it's different for you

low resolution i guess?

Originally Posted by PixelMan

I thought about that, but then it would have just made my review even longer (it hits the 4th page in Microsoft Word =). I did however relate the smoothness to that of the TFL, Oxy, G5, etc.

Anyway, I'll try to do that more with future reviews. This review was to help you pick out which 08 you'd like best for yourself if you could only afford one of them.

Yeah, i wasnt trying to pick holes :)

Should be two columns for anyone with 1280 pixels wide or better. Time to get yourself a nice Christmas monitor.

Originally Posted by Atomic Cow

Should be two columns for anyone with 1280 pixels wide or better. Time to get yourself a nice Christmas monitor.

Hmmm, works properly on my mac book now, but not on my parents computer. They have a nice monitor, can't figure it out. Oh well, not my problem.

Originally Posted by Atomic Cow

Should be two columns for anyone with 1280 pixels wide or better. Time to get yourself a nice Christmas monitor.

And 3 columns for those with 1920x... jk

Mine displays fine with a 800 x 600 monitor.

Originally Posted by Luke Vader

you have by far the most detailed reviews I have ever read...tons of pictures, tons of information, and topped off with a car comparison! I hope to see these reviews added to Yoyobox when you get it up and running, and I hope to still see them here as well!

Excellent review, Pix!

that was the best review EVER! i have nothing to criticize
loved it. i liked that it wasn't the usual "here's my review on the [insert yoyo here] review" that just says basic info and "i like it 10/10" those get old sometimes.
all in all GREAT REVEIW! i hope to see more like this one....*velocity review*<-do it!!!=]

Definitely one of, if not the best review I've ever read. It makes me want to buy a large bearing one just to test both out.

Truly and Epic review, keep up the outstanding work!