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Changes: Tom Kuhn Silver Bullet 2

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{{Infobox simple
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The '''Silver Bullet 2''' (often abbreviated to '''SB-2''') was the follow-up to the original [[Tom Kuhn Silver Bullet I|Silver Bullet]]. Released by [[Tom Kuhn]] in 1990, the yo-yo featured one of the first ball-bearing axles and a patented gap adjustment system. By unscrewing the yo-yo halves and adjusting the depth of the bearing cups which screwed into the halves, one could set the width of the yo-yo gap to accomodate one's style of play.
  
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|name = Silver Bullet 2
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|image = TomKuhnSB2.jpg
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|manufacturer = [[Tom Kuhn]]
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|Release date = 1990
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|shape = Modified
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|color = Various
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|weight = 50 grams
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|dimensions = Diameter: 56.8mm <br> Width: 29.7mm <br> Trapeze Width: 19mm <br> String Gap Width: Adjustable
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|material = Aluminum
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|bearing_size = Size I Tom Kuhn
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|response = 1999 onwards: [[Friction Stickers|Tom Kuhn Turbo Discs]] (as of current)}}The '''Silver Bullet 2''' ('''SB-2''' for short) was the successor model to the original [[Tom Kuhn Silver Bullet I|Silver Bullet]]. Released by [[Tom Kuhn]] in 1990, the yo-yo featured the first modern ball bearing axle and a patented string gap adjustment mechanism. By unscrewing the yo-yo halves and adjusting the depth of the bearing cups which screw into the halves, the user can set the width of the yo-yo gap to accommodate their personal style of play, by means of a screwdriver-type tool.
   
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It was also one of the fastest spinning yo-yos of its time, clocked at 14,300 revolutions per minute (RPM), or a rim speed of 100 miles per hour (mph). This rating was achieved by U.S. National Grand Master, [[Dale Oliver]], in 1991.
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The yo-yo was based on the prototype called the Turbo-Yo, of which around 43 are believed to have been made. Originally offered in an anodized tortoiseshell and bare aluminum, the color choices were later expanded to red, blue, and gold (yellow), and expanded again in 1995 to include violet, and three splash-anodized color schemes.
  
   
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The yo-yo was based on a pre-production model, the '''Turbo-Yo''', of which only 39 were produced. Each Turbo-Yo came with a string gap adjustment tool (a screwdriver), and two large rubber washers that can be fitted on the yo-yo as centrifugal weights. At one point, Dr. Kuhn himself had used a Turbo-Yo with the rubber washers equipped to it, and had performed no less than 102 [[Around the World]]'s with it before returning the yo-yo to his hand.
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In 1999, the SB-2 was marketed as the SB-2.2 and came packaged with Tom's patented Turbo Disc response system (linen friction rings). The color choices were again expanded to include an additional splash anodized color scheme and four models combining splash anodized hubs with polished bare aluminum rims.
  
   
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On July 31st, 1992, an SB-2 yo-yo was sent up into space by NASA on the Atlantis space shuttle for an "Around-the-World" ride where the yo-yo was employed as a prop for an educational video. Astronaut Jeffery Hoffman had put the SB-2 through zero gravity maneuvers, including slow-motion yo-yoing. That SB-2 had traveled 3,321,007 miles and went "around the world" 127 times before the shuttle returned to Earth. 
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The follow up to the SB-2, the SB-3 has only been made as prototypes featuring the click adjust mechanism. Approximately 13 SB-3s are believed to be made thus far. Photos of all three yo-yo are linked below.
  
   
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Originally offered in an anodized Tortoise Shell and bare aluminum, the SB-2's colorways were later expanded to red, blue, and gold (yellow), and expanded again in 1995 to include violet, and three splash-anodized color schemes; Gamma, Infra-Red, and Ultra-Violet. At one point, a few promotional SB-2 yo-yos were produced for the Wells Fargo banking company. Some colorways, however, never make it past the prototype stage, making them all the more unique.
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In 1999, a new version of the yo-yo, nicknamed the "'''SB-2.2'''", was released and it came packaged with Tom's patented Turbo Disc [[Response_Systems|response system]], eliminating the need to double-loop the string around the axle. The color choices were again expanded to include an additional splash anodized color scheme, and four models combining splash anodized hubs with polished bare aluminum rims. 
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Also released was a Butterfly-shaped variant, the [[Tom Kuhn Tom Cat|Tom Cat]].
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==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
  
<gallery>
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image:Tksb2.jpg
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image:Tksb2.jpg|Original SB-2 (from Dave Schulte's collection)
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image:Tksb2a.jpg|What's Next Mfg. version in Tortoise Shell (from Dave Schulte's collection)
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image:Tksb2a.jpg
  
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image:Tksb2area51.jpg
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image:Tksb2area51.jpg|Area 51 Yo-Yo Club 6th Anniversary edition (from Dave Schulte's collection)
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image:Tksb2splash.jpg
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image:Tksb2splash.jpg|SB-2 splash in packaging (from Dave Schulte's collection)
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
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==Reviews==
  
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The '''Silver Bullet 2''' is a remarkable yo-yo and it is still arguably the best yo-yo for all-around play. Dentist by day and yo-yo inventor by night, [[Tom Kuhn]] designed a well balanced yo-yo with a reliable adjustable string gap years ahead of anyone else. --[[User:Flyguy|Flyguy]]
  
   
 
== External Links ==
  
== External Links ==
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=1115 SB-2 Tortoise #1 at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=249 Wells Fargo promotional SB-2 at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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[[Category:Reviews]][[Category:Yo-yo]]
  
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=47 Turbo-Yo at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=1387 SB-2 Superman prototype #1 of 2 at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=1388 Galactic Blast.3 SB-2 prototype #1 of 2 at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=1999 SB-2 in Space postcard at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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*[http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=2000 SB-2 postcard at the Museum of Yo-Yo History]
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*[http://cornellouis.tumblr.com/post/129801365892/tomkuhn-turboyo-todaysthrow-finally-i-wonder Tom Kuhn Turbo-Yo @ cornellouis' Tumblr page]
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*[http://www.online-instagram.com/media/727036683038462151_378298043 Tom Kuhn SB-2 Green Machine prototype #1 of 3 @ yoyobrothers' Online Instagram page]
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[[Category:Yo-yo]]
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[[Category:Tom Kuhn yo-yos]]
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[[Category:North American yo-yos]]
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[[Category:1990s yo-yos]]

Revision as of 16:15, 26 June 2016


Silver Bullet 2
TomKuhnSB2
Manufacturer Tom Kuhn
Release date 1990
Shape Modified
Color Various
Weight 50 grams
Dimensions Diameter: 56.8mm
Width: 29.7mm
Trapeze Width: 19mm
String Gap Width: Adjustable
Material Aluminum
Bearing size Size I Tom Kuhn
Response system 1999 onwards: Tom Kuhn Turbo Discs (as of current)

The Silver Bullet 2 (SB-2 for short) was the successor model to the original Silver Bullet. Released by Tom Kuhn in 1990, the yo-yo featured the first modern ball bearing axle and a patented string gap adjustment mechanism. By unscrewing the yo-yo halves and adjusting the depth of the bearing cups which screw into the halves, the user can set the width of the yo-yo gap to accommodate their personal style of play, by means of a screwdriver-type tool.

It was also one of the fastest spinning yo-yos of its time, clocked at 14,300 revolutions per minute (RPM), or a rim speed of 100 miles per hour (mph). This rating was achieved by U.S. National Grand Master, Dale Oliver, in 1991.

The yo-yo was based on a pre-production model, the Turbo-Yo, of which only 39 were produced. Each Turbo-Yo came with a string gap adjustment tool (a screwdriver), and two large rubber washers that can be fitted on the yo-yo as centrifugal weights. At one point, Dr. Kuhn himself had used a Turbo-Yo with the rubber washers equipped to it, and had performed no less than 102 Around the World's with it before returning the yo-yo to his hand.

On July 31st, 1992, an SB-2 yo-yo was sent up into space by NASA on the Atlantis space shuttle for an "Around-the-World" ride where the yo-yo was employed as a prop for an educational video. Astronaut Jeffery Hoffman had put the SB-2 through zero gravity maneuvers, including slow-motion yo-yoing. That SB-2 had traveled 3,321,007 miles and went "around the world" 127 times before the shuttle returned to Earth. 

Originally offered in an anodized Tortoise Shell and bare aluminum, the SB-2's colorways were later expanded to red, blue, and gold (yellow), and expanded again in 1995 to include violet, and three splash-anodized color schemes; Gamma, Infra-Red, and Ultra-Violet. At one point, a few promotional SB-2 yo-yos were produced for the Wells Fargo banking company. Some colorways, however, never make it past the prototype stage, making them all the more unique.

In 1999, a new version of the yo-yo, nicknamed the "SB-2.2", was released and it came packaged with Tom's patented Turbo Disc response system, eliminating the need to double-loop the string around the axle. The color choices were again expanded to include an additional splash anodized color scheme, and four models combining splash anodized hubs with polished bare aluminum rims. 

Also released was a Butterfly-shaped variant, the Tom Cat.

Gallery

External Links

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