RELEASE INFORMATION
2 DECEMBER 2023
379.99 USD
RAW TITANIUM
60 MADE
61.5g WITH ONE DROP ALUMINIUM DOME SIDE EFFECTS
Diameter 52mm, Width 42mm, Gap 4.4mm
YOYORECREATION NSK PLATINUM DOUBLE STRAIGHT C bearing
CLYW SLIM / G-GRIP SIZE TYPE 50 LANDING PADS RESPONSE
Some of my happiest childhood memories began beneath the golden arches.
Most Sunday mornings, my family would make a pilgrimage to the McDonald's beside East Coast Park, followed by a cycling trip along the beach. A Happy Meal - and its accompanying toy - was almost always part of the ritual. Those outings were the highlight of my week, and the mere mention of McDonald's was enough to send my excitement levels through the roof.
Burger brings those memories into the RSO universe: a titanium yo-yo served in its own miniature burger box, complete with a menu, ketchup and a generous helping of Return Toppings. The toy is considerably heavier on titanium and lighter on nutritional value.
FINGER LOOPIN’ GOOD
The starting point for Burger was the VsNYYC Ti Walker, the titanium version of the Sky Walker and a grail widely regarded as one of the finest yo-yos ever made. I have never had the opportunity to own or play a Ti Walker, but my collection includes all three colourways of the Ti-Vayder. Conceived by codinghorror in 2019, the Ti-Vayder used 3D scanning to closely reproduce the Ti Walker's geometry while incorporating a modernized response system. Its origins were openly documented, and the project later received the blessing of Heath Vizier, the original designer behind VsNYYC. After the Ti-Vayder was released, I contacted Heath to ask whether the original Ti Walker might ever return. He explained that he had promised never to reproduce it.
Burger therefore began not as a recreation of the Ti Walker, but as a heavily fed homage to it.
The Ti Walker occupies an interesting space between V- and H-shaped designs. A step within its catch zone breaks up the V profile and helps move mass towards the rims, creating a silhouette that could equally be described as a W. Similar ideas can be seen in the YoYoFactory Skyline and, in a steeper form, the sOMEThING Anglam.
Burger takes that foundation and allows the dough to rise.
The step was moved further inwards and the surrounding curvature made considerably fuller, transforming the catch zone into a rounded organic profile. The result is a puffier interpretation of the Ti Walker - closer to the love handles of the Michelin Man after one too many value meals. At 52mm, Burger is also slightly smaller in diameter than the 53.5mm Ti-Vayder.
Ti-Vayder (red) superimposed on a Yoyofactory Skyline.
Ti-Vayder (red) superimposed on a sOMEThING Anglam.
Cross section of the Ti-Vayder obtained from the YoYoExpert Forum (red) superimposed on a 3D render of Burger.
AN RSO RECIPE
The resemblance to the Ti Walker ends at the catch zone. The cups are distinctly RSO.
A shallow circumferential groove surrounds the Side Effects hub, continuing a design language established by Gravity and Droid. Burger's rim weight is also distributed differently from that of the Ti-Vayder. On the Ti-Vayder, much of the mass is concentrated at the outermost edge.
Clockwise from top left: Sushi, Gravity and Burger.
On Burger, the centre of mass is positioned slightly further inwards - approximately 6-7mm from the outer rim - around the groove that accommodates a removable rubber O-ring. The same O-rings are compatible with the titanium Silver Bullet, Gravity and Sushi. This distribution preserves useful rim weight without giving Burger an excessively aggressive character. Reuben Ng of Atmos Projects and Wayne Ngan of Layer Infinity were among the first to play the production version. Both found Burger less forceful than the Ti-Vayder and more willing to change direction. At 61.5g with aluminium Dome Side Effects, Burger is also noticeably lighter than the 63.7g Ti-Vayder. Its movement on the string feels airy, while its rounded profile sits in the hand like a soft, freshly risen bun. The larger CLYW Slim / G-Grip-sized Landing Pads provide a direct and positive response.
Fluffy on the outside. Properly responsive once bitten.
The groove on Burger which accommodates the rubber O ring (red arrow), is where most of the weight is concentrated.
WOULD YOU LIKE CAPS WITH THAT?
The single step in Burger's catch zone provided enough freedom to concentrate mass around the O-ring groove while preserving a rim-weighted distribution. It also allowed a groove for Duncan Freehand caps to be retained.
Burger accepts compatible Duncan Freehand caps, but it does not accept the custom polycarbonate caps or rings originally produced for Gravity and Sushi. As relatively few Gravity and Sushi owners appeared to play those yo-yos with Freehand caps installed, a cap-removal tool is not included with Burger. It remains available separately for anyone who wants to order Burger with a lid.
TWO YEARS IN THE OVEN
Burger entered the RSO kitchen in October 2021, shortly after Sushi had been wrapped. Following Gravity, the intention was to complete a trio of titanium yo-yos that could be customized using caps, removable rings and One Drop Side Effects. Like Sushi, however, Burger took considerably longer to prepare than expected. The final recipe required two years and several prototypes.
From left to right: first prototype, second bimetal prototype, third aluminium prototype, production version.
The initial CAD was completed on 24 November 2021. At the time, the project was called Astronaut because its bulky catch zone resembled the inflated proportions of a spacesuit. The name has since been reserved for a different yo-yo.
Before the first prototype was produced, the catch zone was rounded further and its single step moved inwards. Soon afterwards, a Japanese yo-yo player, @sho1_leatheryoyoshop_fe, independently shared a remarkably similar concept. He had no prior knowledge of Burger. After I contacted him, the resemblance between the catch zones was acknowledged, along with the many differences elsewhere in the designs. It was a curious example of two similar ideas developing independently at almost exactly the same time.
The first Burger CAD was conceived on 24 November 2021. At that time, it was named Astronaut. The catch zone shown had undergone further changes - it was made rounder and the single step placed more medially - before arriving at the first prototype. This screenshot has been redacted.
A post by @sho1_leatheryoyoshop_fe on Instagram dated 22 December 2021. He had no prior knowledge of Burger (or Astronaut at that time).
The first titanium prototypes were eventually circulated among several RSO customers. Their feedback was consistent: the design lacked sufficient rim weight. Even with aluminium Ultralight Side Effects installed, it felt dense and reluctant on the string.
The first Burger was undercooked.
First prototype (left) and production version (right). Notice the more pronounced groove for the rubber O ring on the production version.
OVERSTUFFED
The most direct solution appeared to be the addition of stainless-steel rims. A titanium-stainless steel (TiSS) Burger was therefore prototyped, drawing on the experience gained from Droid.
Most of the TiSS halves could eventually be tuned to an acceptable level of smoothness - never a simple task with a Side Effects bimetal - but the resulting play character was not convincing. The prototype was powerful, but overpowering. It had lost the light, fluffy movement that its appearance promised. More importantly, its performance did not justify the substantially higher production cost.
A year was spent evaluating the TiSS prototype before it was rejected. It had been overstuffed.
Second bimetal TiSS prototype (left) and production version (right).
Second bimetal TiSS prototype (left) and production version (right).
Second bimetal TiSS prototype. Although the groove for the rubber O rings were removed, the rubber O rings could still be placed snugly under the steel rings. Freehand caps would sit on top of the steel rings.
THE FINAL RECIPE
The first monometal CAD was revisited. Instead of attaching stainless-steel rims, titanium mass was redistributed outwards and concentrated around a deeper O-ring groove. This provided the additional rim weight that the first prototype lacked, without the excessive force of the TiSS version. The finished design retained stability and presence while recovering the lighter, more responsive movement originally envisioned for Burger.
Significant rim weight was added to the rubber O ring groove of the first prototype (red arrow), with a deeper groove on the production version (green arrow).
An additional aluminium prototype and a third titanium prototype were produced before mass production to confirm the revised geometry and identify any remaining issues. Fortunately, Burger proved far easier to assemble than Droid. Sometimes a single patty is all that is required.
Aluminium prototype (left) and production version (right).
FLAVOR MEETS THE STRING
Burger's presentation draws primarily from In-N-Out, a restaurant that remains sadly unavailable in Singapore.
My first visit to the United States was during a family holiday to San Francisco and Las Vegas in 2007. One of my fondest memories from that trip is of my younger brother and late father enjoying their In-N-Out cheeseburgers together.
In-N-Out located at Mountain View, CA, in 2007.
Inside the In-N-Out restaurant, which doesn’t seemed to have changed much since 2007 comparing with recent photos on Google Reviews.
My younger brother and late father enjoying their In-N-Out cheeseburgers in 2007.
I returned to California in 2010 for a month-long medical elective with the liver transplant team at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. On the way home from the hospital, I would regularly stop at the In-N-Out on Gayley Avenue for a cheeseburger. "Regularly" may be an understatement. It happened almost every day for an entire month. Although I eventually became an interventional radiologist rather than pursuing surgical residency, the Burger did eventually make it out of development.
I spent a month long attachment with the liver transplant team at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in 2010. I eventually did not choose a surgical residency and I am now an interventional radiologist.
In the hospital changing room.
Setting off for work from our apartment we rented in Beverly Hills.
Many trips were made to the In-N-Out restaurant at Gayley Avenue, LA, on my way home from the hospital.
The artwork was created by ATILA. Its dominant red palette draws from In-N-Out, while touches of yellow reference McDonald's - still my favourite fast-food chain.
Burger is presented in a custom box slightly smaller than a full-sized burger box. The side flaps display its ingredients, including titanium bars among the more conventional toppings. The certificate of authenticity takes the form of a restaurant menu, while the ketchup sachets inspired the accompanying enamel pin.
Even the engraving reveals the layers of a fully assembled burger. It is an unnecessarily elaborate engraving on a yo-yo. Which is precisely why it had to be done.
The custom burger box that ships with Burger is slightly smaller than a real life burger box.
This write up would not be complete without obligatory shots of Burger… in its burger form.
Engraving showing different layers of a burger.
HAVE IT YOUR WAY
A Burger should never be limited to the standard order.
RSO collaborated with Wayne Ngan of Layer Infinity to create two removable weight rings known as Return Toppings: Lettuce and Tomato. Each Lettuce Return Topping weighs approximately 1.8g. Installed as a pair with the aluminium Dome Side Effects, they bring Burger to approximately 65.1g. Each Tomato Return Topping weighs approximately 2.7g. Installed as a pair, they increase Burger's weight to approximately 66.9g and produce a more powerful, rim-weighted character. Both varieties are also compatible with Gravity and Sushi.
“These weighty rims - delectably named "Return Toppings" - are 3D printed with a process similar to my other products like Crystal rims and Kasm. The translucent face reveals the actual structure inside, with one significant difference. While the patterns on Crystal rims and Kasm were computationally generated as infill by the slicer software, Return Toppings' patterns are actually part of the CAD model itself. This way, the pattern can be as detailed as the printer's resolution allows.
3D printing with translucent filament poses an interesting challenge. The goal is for the initial layer to be as clear as possible for the internal structure to show up. This process is very sensitive to machine settings like layer height, temperature, and filament retraction, which differ from those used in printing ordinary opaque objects. Combined with size and mass calibrations, Return Toppings required a small mountain of prototypes just to determine the ideal settings for production.
This run of Return Toppings is designed to resemble two ingredients you'd find in burger sandwiches: Lettuce and Tomatoes. While the Lettuce (1.8g each) provides a comfortable balance between rim weight and zippiness, the Tomatoes (2.8g each) are noticeably heavier and more powerful.
What type of Return Toppings would you like in your Burger?”
- Wayne Ngan, Layer Infinity
These 48mm stickers were originally designed for a set of polycarbonate caps. However, because the caps developed for Sushi were incompatible with Burger, the concept never progressed to production. The unused designs are presented here as a glimpse of the toppings that never made it onto the menu.
Whether you prefer the lighter, more agile character of Lettuce or the added weight and power of Tomato, the Return Toppings allow Burger to be served according to taste. There is no single correct order - only a different flavour of play.
The only remaining question is: what would you like on your Burger?
