Hummingbird Ⅱ

Release date: December 25th, 8:00 PM EST worldwide

(Japan time December 26th 10AM)

Price：115-120 USD

FInally, the long awaited sequel to Hummingbird is here. Hummingbird is one of the all time classics not only for yoyofriends, but also the yoyo community. Back in 2017, we went all out with a wrapped around ring concept on a lightweight bimetal. It was at that time, fast and powerful. It's performance was a standout among the yoyo community and we made multiple runs afterwards. 

(yoyofriends Hummingbird)

Making it a sequel to a classic is a daunting task. Yoyoing has evolved and changed drastically over the years since 2017, and specs are totally different then what it used to be. We have to walk a fine line of making this yoyo perform well in modern standard, while not stray away too much from the hummingbird feel. 

For our initial design, we first analyzed the iconic center hub that brings both aesthetic and center weight. We think this plays an essential role in the hummingbird's identity. To keep that feel and essence, we decided not to change the cup. The gap width is increased to 4.54mm to accompany the thicker strings. We want to increase the width without changing the profile too much. We decided 48mm width would be a good sweet spot. Not super wide that could drastically change the feel of the yoyo. For the outer ring, we decided to upgrade the original wrapped around ring. Based on Tomoki's second signature, Melzi. The ring slope is now a lot steeper for more extreme outer weight distribution. 

Finally for the weight. We first thought of making it close to the original's weight at around 63g. Then we felt that yoyo would clash with Melzi also at around 63-64g. To provide a more unique experience in our lineup, we increased the weight to around 65g to prioritize power and stability over speed. We gathered all these points and made the first prototype.

(Hummingbird II prototype 1)

The prototype one is made. There are some manufacturing issues. Although the yoyo plays great, the yield is not. It is not up to our utmost high standards.We then compare it to the original hummingbird side by side. No wonder the original Hummingbird is an all time classic. Although the new prototype plays great, we still feel it is missing something to truly warrant an upgrade.The project was temporarily put on hold. During this period, we communicated with many brand partners about material use. It became clear that 7075 aluminum is more widely favored by the market. Offering hardness and strength comparable to 7068. Therefore, we decided to use 7075 starting with Hummingbird.

The project was restarted in mid-2025, and we decided to use 7075 aluminum for the Hummingbird II.

Over time our manufacturer has mastered this material, making it possible to machine the walls almost as thin as 7068.  We felt the weight is at a great spot, but the weight distribution is not extreme enough. So we reduced the curvature of the center hub design, then proceeded to put the weight saved to the aggressive SS ring. Prototype 2 is made shortly after. 

(Hummingbird II prototype 2)

The yoyo finally hit the sweets pot. With the performance increase fully warrant an upgrade while not straying too far from the original. After multiple player's testing, we greenlit this design to production. 

(production Hummingbird II)

For the logo and naming, we decided to keep it simple. We still think highly of the original hummingbird and we want to keep the same elegance and pay homage to it. 

We hope you enjoy the Hummingbird II, a more modernized version of a classic. Keeping the essence and feel of the original with upgraded performance to take on modern day yoyo tricks.