Skwint

That's a very unfair statement.

I ride a Yamaha Nouvo Elegance full Automatic and I'm very happy with it. However, If I hadn't had to have ankle fusion on my left ankle that prevents me from being able to change gear, thanks to a drunk driver in a pick up truck I would be driving a larger motorcycle with a clutch and manual gear box as I always have in the past.

What a small minded person you must be to think that the type of motorcycle somone rides has anything to do with sexual orientation!

I have been riding an X1 for the past 7 years,so I want to know when Yamaha will get their bloody fingers out and bring out something to compete with the CBR .

I hate ALL automatics,they are like sitting on a hairdryer.So,unless you are a girl OR of questionable orientation,you should get a clutch .

I have a brand new (950km) Nuovo Elegance 135cc. It will run better on green 91 as that is what it's set up for, notice the green 91 sticker on the fuel cap?

I have the model with cast alloy mag wheels and have no problems with the tires, I've ridden bikes of all sizes and types over the years, and have spent a fortune on tires, in my experience they all skip on white lines and drain covers, especially in the wet.

This is either the Malaysian or Philippino model

The new models are still 53000 baht with the spoked wheels. Out the door with insurance and registration they are close to 56,000 baht however.

I paid 57,000 Baht. Incl. mag wheels, registration, helmet, jacket, home delivery, english manual and other excellent services

Helmut

Helmut, if you have the chance can you post a picture of your new bike. Right now I'm about 50-50 on trading my three year old Nouvo in on a new one. But I haven't seen any of the new ones yet, only the pictures. This is the best I've found as of yet of the new red model.

I like this one but its not one of the old or new colours,yamaha must be selling customised parts for the NE.

I bought my Elegance here in Nong Khai 2 months ago and have done 800km of mixed riding, with most around town and also a trip to Udon Thani. I've found that the brakes are excellent and it also has the acceleration to get you out of any sticky situations or for overtaking. Mine isn't properly run in yet, but I have had 115km/hr out of it. Fuel economy seems to be about 1Baht per Km keeping below 75km/hr, but if you want to cruise at 100km/hr it is quite a bit less and I find the rear shocks just a little too harsh for me and will probably change them for adjustable gas shocks later.

I have been told that the tubed tyres that come with the spoked wheels are a slightly different compound to the tubeless tyres and don't hold the road as well, especially in the wet, but I have no first hand experience of that, I know that my tubeless tyres stick to the road pretty well in all conditions.

The motor has plenty of bottom end grunt, and when the wife is on the back there is almost no difference in performance around town.

I paid 59,000 for the bike including 2 years insurance, 2 helmets and jackets.

Over all I am very happy with the bike, but would also consider the Suzuki Skywave, mainly because it's about 10,000 Baht less for the 125cc fuel injected model with alloy wheels.

Forgot to add: Nong Khai is a little more laid back than Koh Tao; not so much agro, so maybe you ought to think twice about moving here.

I have been on Koh Tao for a little over 2yrs and don't like the place, and didn't even when I was working as a diving instructor.

Laid back is what we are both looking for as we are about twice the age of most visitors to the island.

Skwint,

First: I don't like your moniker, or whatever it's called, with the cat going nuts with the assault weapon-- take it easy, dude.

Second: you and your wife aren't thinking of buying the old Nobbie's Place bar, are you?

No we're not thinking of buying Nobbie's old place, we're thinking about the small one that was a karaoke bar opposite the Thai Laos Riverside Hotel.

As for my moniker, each to their own.

Thanks for the input, it certainly seems like we may be making the right decision in moving to Nong Khai from what responses I've been getting on this and other forums.

Thanks guys,

I'm not a real Geek (I think), but I do like to build and upgrade my own, and sometimes my friends systems as quite often what comes as a brand name PC has inferior internal components or carries a much higher price tag than you really need to pay.

Good news about TT&T.

Down here on Koh Tao you can't use a PC without a UPS.

First thing to do is find out what the power consumption of your computer is, then find a UPS with a higher output. The best brand (but not the cheapest) is APC, they produce some models that have built in voltage stabilisers.

I have found that most of the Thai made ones can't handle the power fluctuating too much and simply pack up after a while, I haven't had one last more than three months here. If you want a cheaper (1,500b) one Macro sometimes stock them.

Thanks for that Abdulrahman,

Hopefully we will be able to provide local farangs with a little more choice in venue, and a few early nights would make a nice change for me.

Yes I do prefer to build my own systems, I suppose I will have to rely on Pantip Plaza and Fortune Towers in BKK when I need things.

Do you have any info on the favoured internet provider in the Nong Khai area? Here on "The Rock" I am limited to using DTAC GPRS EDGE with an older Nokia, it's less than ideal but at least I do have internet.

Wow! If you are getting "True" 115 Kbps using your mobile in a "remote village", I would say you are doing real good. I am also in a remote village using AIS service provider and motorola GPRS mobile phone (bluetooth connection to my desktop). On good days I am happy to get 40 Kbps. Only other option where I live is IPSTAR Satelite which is rather expensive and I still hear too many people complain about the reliability to make me want to try it.

I use DTAC EDGE with a Nokia 6681 and it was very slow until I stopped using Bluetooth and got a Nokia/USB cable, it's much faster, but I find it's not too good for Skype as the data seems to be sent in bursts.

My wife and I are 95% sure that we will be buying a bar in, and moving to Nong Khai in the near future.

No lectures please as we have both been in the trade for some years and are selling our bar on Koh Tao at the moment.

I understand that there is a Tesco Lotus in NK but, is there a Big C, or Carefour? Is there a Macro, if not where is the nearest?

What is the night life generally like in NK and is it spread out or in one area? We will not be opening a "girly" bar as I am bloody sick of the hassles involved, just a comfortable, pleasant place with a little in the way of pub food, ie breakfast, lunches and snacks, anyone like Cornish Pasties? and maybe free Wifi if I can get a decent connection at the Western side of town.

Also, is there a decent computer dealer, as in, somewhere I can buy components etc. or is Udon the closest place?

Any information would be of help.

Skwint