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So what to do? One part of a strategy is to buy the maximum permitted amount of National Savings and Investments Index Linked Certificates. At any one time you can purchase 15000 UKP of 3 year term and another 15K of 5 year term.
As each new tranche is released you can buy another 30k without limit.
Chiang Mai replied.
That sounds like a good idea, I had looked at them before but concluded it wasn't desperation time yet, maybe I should look again! It'll be interesting to see if the UK government will sell them to non-resident ex pats.
Yes. Definitely a non-resident expat can buy them. You can not use the direct online purchase site but must phone 0500 500 500 and register your address as required by money laundering regulations etc. After that you just phone and they debit your UK account as you wait. They are very efficient.
The point about buying now, before 'desperation time' when the banking crisis really hits is that you can only buy two lots of 15k UKP from each issue. When inflation picks up again, as many believe it will, then everyone will be clamouring for them and only able to buy 30k until the Government authorises another issue which they won't do until sales dry up completely. Then it will be too late to get the benefit.
So if you buy now you can accumulate more as each issue appears and roll them over at the end of the term and still get inflation proofing. If the index falls you still get back your investment plus interest.
What are the chances of UK inflation being zero in three years time when all that intervention, or pump priming cash is sloshing round the UK economy? The politicians are fighting the fire (financial credit freeze) by pumping water (cash) and ignoring the fact that the lake is emptying and the price to refill the lake will be higher. (borrowing yet more money).
I am just suggesting that it can form another part of your strategy to preserve your wealth along with everything else (premium bonds are also fun and risk free for another 30k). When the time looks right you can sell at a moments notice and get into index tracker funds or whatever you like the look of.
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Its often said on here that no one is clever enough to predict exchange rates accurately. Sometimes we can see trends and go with the flow but unexpected events usually crop up and make fools of us.
The worst of the banking crisis may be over but there are still people out there saying that there is much, much more bad news to emerge and that the very existence of some banks is threatened.
Governments are doing their best to mitigate the crisis but the record shows that most government action fails to achieve its objectives. Indeed much government effort and legislation is subjected to the law of unintended consequences and actually has the opposite effect of what was intended.
So if you believe that Gordon Brown really can save the world then you can relax and wait and see. If you don't believe his rhetoric then action is needed.
A mixture of asset classes such as foreign currency deposits, offshore banks, gold (not for me thanks), bonds and maybe even index trackers or direct share purchases can all be mixed and matched to suit your risk appetite. Hopefully, a spread of assets will give a better result than risking all in one class.
But. History shows that when a democratically elected politician knows that taxes need to be raised to pay for endless government expenditure, the usual response is to borrow more not impose higher taxes. The other proven method of hiding tax increases is to allow the currency to debase so that the debt reduces in real terms. In other words create inflation which transfers wealth from the lender to the borrower who is repaying his loan in a less valuable currency. This silent stealth tax of inflation is much preferred by Politicians.
My feeling is that despite the emphasis on deflation recently, there will be massive inflation before too long to mop up all the cash that has been thrown at the banks and other targets to keep the economy functioning. 'Too big and important to fail' as they have claimed.
So what to do? One part of a strategy is to buy the maximum permitted amount of National Savings and Investments Index Linked Certificates. At any one time you can purchase 15000 UKP of 3 year term and another 15K of 5 year term.
As each new tranche is released you can buy another 30k without limit.
They are guaranteed to match the rise in the RPI (not CPI) and pay 1% interest on top. So you are guaranteed to beat inflation as measured by RPI by 1%. The next issue will have a different interest rate which is announced when launched.
AT present with the prospect of deflation the Certificates don't have a great appeal. But only three months ago the UK treasury was fighting the threat of INflation and not concerned about DEflation. Things change fast, By buying now you can top up with each issue and be protected to the extent of your total holding should we experience another rate of 25% last seen in 1975 or Nigel Lawson's 11% in 1990. The terms are very soft and you can sell at any time although indexing and interest is only added after you have held them for one year.
None of this helps protect you against exchange rate fluctuations but at least you will be able to return to UK with your savings intact. If you think that there will never be another 25% annual inflation then did you think you would ever see 0% bank rates? Its worth considering.
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A group of friends visited the Floating Market today.
We were impressed by the size of the enterprise and how busy it was in the present very quiet time in Pattaya. The vast majority of visitors there were Thai and seemed to be happy enough. Taking photos of the fake buildings and eating Thai foods served from boats tied up to the walkways.
Unfortunately we were suckered into going by the Hobgoblin post referred to above which suggested a KFC and Pizza Place. Maybe this was meant to be funny?
see http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Floating-Mar...&hl=pattaya
Sadly there are no such eateries. However there was humour to be found.
The men's urinals were clearly designed by a drug taking hippy. You have to position yourself to fire into the open mouth of a fanciful fibreglass fruit with a bird perched on a branch at its side. If your equipment happens to be at the same height from the floor as the mouth then all is well. If not.....
Post cards of the toilets will surely soon be available. Not to be missed! Or else.
The party's disappointment was assuaged by moving on to the Lung Sawai restaurant where we all ate really excellent fresh seafood and enjoyed the sea breeze. The only upset to our newly established contentment was the fact that some people had a view of La Royale from their seats.
This building seems to bring out the architectural critic in many people. "The worst building paint job I have ever seen anywhere in the world including Soviet prisons" was one of the milder comments. "How could they?". and "But WHY?".
As we drove past on our way back to Jomtien it became apparent to some of our party that not only have the developers commissioned an unforgettable exterior paint job but also managed to build what looks like a shanty town slum of low rise units at the front of the tower. A brand new slum. Now that's an innovation.
Hobgoblin, you have a lot to answer for. First you persuade us into visiting the Floating Market to eat non available Pizza then we end up arguing about the world's worst building paint job.
Next time we will go to the Mantra. You get what you ask for there.
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Somchai live on Channel 3.
Did any of our fluent Thai speakers watch this?
What did he say?
Try www.astv-tv.com
Click on TOC and you will receive live coverage with English translation/commentary.
Its one sided but at least its mainly in English.
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I am puzzled by all this discussion.
Isn't it a basic economic concept/belief that if the money supply is increased then inflation follows.
At a common sense level, if an economy makes a certain quantity of goods and services and the money in circulation is doubled then the price of those desired goods and services will also increase and eventually double.
One explanation of the increase in house prices over the years (talking about USA/UK here not LOS) is that loans were once made against a single income (usually male breadwinner). Then the partner' s income was factored in leading to increasing prices of existing housing stock. Then the 3-times-income type rules were relaxed and more money was available for those same houses. Prices shot up to use the cash.
Why won't the massive injections of money into the system lead to similar increases in all prices from a can of beans to a new car?
Why are economists forecasting deflation and not inflation?
How can governments keep throwing huge sums of money at banks etc without a rise in general prices following? Again, at a common sense level....if the value of money now halves or more. Then, the nominal price of houses will be roughly back where they were in the more stable and predictable past, ie 3 or 4 times average earnings.
The value of the pound on the foreign exchanges must also half to keep real prices at the true international market level. The pound is on its way already but another big drop/adjustment still to go.
Can any economists out there explain it all to me? My arithmetic above isn't precise, its just the principles that interest me.
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She could apply to lease a truck from the mafia office. I think you might be able to ride along and stick your hand out to accept fares, but thats about it. Enjoy! I assume you are tongue cheekin' it but of course you can't just buy your OWN truck and be a baht bus operator.
Jingthing. I am so disappointed in your response.
Why do you think this is tongue in cheek? Thai wife plus falang, surely that has to be a brilliant combination.
Just think of all the innovations a brilliant transport organiser like yourself could introduce. You could get the driver to slow down as you pass the Taxi Meters outside the Avenue Mall and open and slam the doors saying "no meter, No Jingthing".
I can just see you patiently handing back 5 baht pieces to drunks, Indians and Arabs and others who think that 10 baht is the correct fare from Jomtien to the Dolphin Circle.
'No no. Please Sir/Madam Its only 5 baht. I am not a member of the mafia' you will say. "its been such a pleasure to transport you, I couldn't possibly take so much".
:D -
I for one will no longer be shopping there in protest and I urge you all to follow my example.
OK agreed. Will do. No problem.
And just for good measure I will not shop anywhere in Bangkok at all, ever,
So, take that Emporium. Biff, bash. I bet you are cringing in fear.
What is Emporium? We don't have one in Pattaya City, the finest place to shop? in the universe. It can't be any good or we would have at least two or three!!
Happy horridays to all.
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If you get what you pay for. What should you get when the fare is entirely FREE? Yes FREE no taxes, no fuel surcharges. FREE.
Ryanair for all its shortcomings has opened up European air travel.
Where you once had to deal with arrogant, monopoly airlines now you have choice. You can pay a high fare and get a high cost reliable, quality service or take your chances on cheap and cheerful bus style shuttles.
The business model has worked for Ryanair and Easyjet and has been adapted and copied throughout the world.
latest promo.
Flights from LONDON
One way fares including taxes and charges
from
Barcelona Reus
Free
Cork
Free
Nantes
Free
Palma Mallorca
Free
Parma
Free
from
Pau (Pyrenees)
Free
Poznañ
Free
Rimini
Free
Santander
Free
Santiago Comp.
Free
Flights from LIVERPOOL
One way fares including taxes and charges
from
Barcelona Reus
Free
Cork
Free
Knock
Free
Krakow
Free
Limoges
Free
from
Lodz
Free
Nantes
Free
Shannon
Free
Szczecin
Free
Venice-Treviso
Free
Flights from BIRMINGHAM
One way fares including taxes and charges
from
Barcelona Reus
Free
Düsseldorf-Weeze
Free
Palma Mallorca
Free
Perpignan
Free
Pisa (Florence)
Free
from
Porto
Free
Prague
Free
Rzeszów
Free
Shannon
Free
Szczecin
Free
Cheap enough? Or do you want jam on it?
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Democratic governments usually insist that will not negotiate with terrorists. They claim that to give in to blackmail would embolden the blackmailers and they would soon be back for more. It would also encourage other like minded criminals to try their luck too.
On September 19th 2008 Henry Paulson demanded $700billions for a financial rescue. He alone would decide what, when, where and how to use the cash.
Just like criminal kidnappers he also demanded no supervision or audit. "And don't bring the cops...OR ELSE" is basically what he said.
Do this NOW or everything will collapse next week.
So, the government did what it said it would never do...it gave him the money.
How long was it before he needed more? How much was used that week to stave off imminent catastrophe? How long was it before it became clear that everything did not collapse instantly as he had claimed.
It is a basic principal of capitalist economics that all companies believe fervently in free markets and free market forces. However, IN THEIR PARTICULAR CASE there are SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. In other words, every company thinks that its competitors should face the full rigours of competitive markets but that they alone should be protected.
Business is hard. Business is difficult. Business can be ultra competitive. Business can give you sleepless nights. Business can fail and you can lose everything. Many politicians, especially European, have never worked in the real market economy and experienced this first hand. They are often slippery tongued word smiths who create a career under the protection of local government or industries that have government support or a near monopoly.
So how much easier is money from weak minded democratic politicians who can claim they are doing good by saving jobs and supporting collapsing industries from those pesky foreigners who make products people actually want at prices they are happy to pay.
Now just watch them line up for some of that worry free cash. A few million dollars spent on judicious lobbying will get undreamed of cash returns. Gimme gimme gimme.
The line is starting now. It will get longer and longer and each industry that is bailed out will put off the necessary restructuring for as long as the cash continues to arrive.
Welcome to The United Socialist States Of America.
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The British pound has dropped 28% since July, If I could find a buyer for my rental property which is worth 3.5 mill baht, and has a tennant signed up for a year. I would definetly sell, convert to Sterling, and just sit with the Sterling for 12-18 months, then convert back to baht. To put into more perspective, my Thai rental home has risen in value (Sterling) of around £15000 since 14th July, so if I sell now and wait for the baht to get back to mid 60's, I would make £25,000 - £30,000 profit. Last year the Dollar was very weak, Credit crunch hitting the USA first, now the dollar seems to be recovering. So hopefully sterling will go the same way? I am no expert, and hope my Math equates. No doubt someone will answer here.
I think your Math equates but as you say "IF I could find a buyer".
There is possibly a problem here. When you purchased you no doubt compared its price to prevailing UK prices. In July 3.5m bt computed at around 49k UKP. What would 49k buy for your money in the UK? Probably not a lot.
Now put yourself in the position of a newly arrived buyer from the UK. 3.5m GBP now computes at around 68k UKP (using your figures 68 less 28% = 49).
So what would 68k UKP buy for you NOW in the UK? The property snake.co.uk shows many city centre apartments selling for not much more. Some previous Buy To Let city centre flats have been auctioned off by banks for even less. The collapse in prices is at a very early stage in the UK. Another 25% to go according to some and even then the market will be fully priced.
That 3.5m bt condo no longer looks such a bargain. To shift it at the perceived 'good value price' of 49k UKP you will need to price it at around 2.5m bt. Then you will get your money back. In the future you may get less but who can foretell?...not even the Great Naam.
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I recently hired several scooter type bikes to see which was best for me.
The Suzuki 125 was fast and nippy but the first one wouldn't run when cold. It kept stalling until it was warmed up.
This is a dangerous feature in Pattaya traffic. The hire company appeared familiar with the problem and mentioned adjusting the carbuerettor at a garage.
It was swapped for another nearly new one.
The second evening my girlfriend couldn't open the seat to get her bag out. The key mechanism was out of adjustment. A trivial quality control issue turned into quite a drama!
This replacement wouldn't start at all one morning. A motorcycle taxi then pushed me a couple of miles with his left foot on my rear right foot peg back to the hire place. This time they looked at the wiring on the handlebars saying that it could be troublesome. If you look at it closely, you will see why!
So, my experience is that they look good and go well enough when they go but the build quality doesn't compare with Honda or Yamaha.
A close examination of the components and construction reminds me of Platinum bikes but they are not that crude.
Are they built in India by any chance? Does anybody know?
There is a new model due out and on paper it looks really good. But I don't often go out for a ride on paper.
How much they want for a new one? A nearly new Honda or Yamaha might be better. You can hire newish ones for 1000 baht a week and test them all out. There are big differences in practicality of the various models. Which is best for you all depends on what you are going to use it for.
Goldfish. I love that Combi Brake on the Hondas but I noticed that some of my pals hated it as you do. For me, Airblade brakes give you a feeling of security that the others don't in Pattaya traffic mayhem.
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In addition to many good expats living in LOS, a great many of the farang expat population consists of misfits, drunks, crooks, perverts, anti-social types, or people that have escaped to LOS to take advantage of the the cheap housing, women, and whiskey. I think most farangs with any common sense tend to be more guarded and careful in choosing who they socialize with due to the vast number of losers and western society rejects living in LOS.
Are you serious? Where do you live?
Here in Pattaya we have one of the most honourable, honest, caring, sharing,welcoming,friendly,environmentally concerned,wonderful expat communities you could meet anywhere.
Come and meet us. Visiting is allowed most days.
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There is a lot of gloom about the possibility of selling houses on this forum.
At the same time many new estates are being built and occupied and even more are under construction East of Sukhumvit. It seems that the reason is the price. The successful estates are priced realistically for the local Thai market. Houses from 1 million baht upwards.
Has anyone who is desperate or perhaps better to say, highly motivated, tried to sell by reducing their farang estate house price sufficiently to create some interest from bargain hunters? eg built and sold for 4.5million . Now on SALE for 3.49million!!
That represents a reduction is price of 23% yet it would enable a seller who originally brought in cash from Australia at 30 baht to the AUD to more or less break even! Bought baht at 30 AUD. Buy AUD back again at 23 at todays prices.
The sums are similar for all the main Farang currencies. Anyone who used UK Pounds to buy baht in 2004 got 74 per pound. Now they can buy their pounds back at 53. Thats 28%.
Surely, a house put up for sale at 28% off its original purchase price would create some interest. "I paid 4.5m but its yours for 3.25m". That sounds like a persuasive headline to me. Someone is advertising their condo on TV at present. He claims to be the actual owner/seller. Thats what I call a determined vendor.
If you are prepared to take a 'loss' then you could make an even more dramatic reduction and regard the 'loss' as rent paid for the pleasure and enjoyment of living in that house.
It goes against the Western mindset to sell property for less than you paid for it but these are unusual times. A quick sale may be the only sale you will get before things change for the worse again. (or maybe for the better, who knows?)
This won't work for everyone and most people here bought to nest not to invest with a cash sum and are very happy to carry on regardless of the theoretical value of their house.
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How much to retire in Europe?
there is no answer to this question as there is no answer ...........................
g). but even with lower taxes and a considerably less comfortable lifestyle than Thailand i arrive at a required pre-tax income of €UR 190,000 / USD 245,000 / GBP 155,000 p.a. which does not take into consideration the multiple amount i'd have to spend for a home which i (we) consider comfortable.
Surely this is a gross understatement of your needs.
we have a saying in Germany: "one has to stretch the legs according to the available length of the blanket". as far as 'entertainers' are concerned... looking forward to a triple bypass end of next next week and having reached the age 65 the needs and expenditure for entertainers are negligible
Well all the best with the bypass. A pal of mine had a quintuple (he is diabetic) ten years ago last month. He was out riding his pushbike within weeks and has never lost interest in the length of blankets. I'm playing along with your saying although I suspect you invented it to confuse everyone.
German is a mysterious culture. What on earth does stretching legs and blanket lengths have to do with anything?
Another pal woke up in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital after collapsing with a heart attack on a local golf course. He says when he opened his eyes and saw Dr Manoon's nurses he knew he had a reason for living.
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How much to retire in Europe?
there is no answer to this question as there is no answer ...........................
g). but even with lower taxes and a considerably less comfortable lifestyle than Thailand i arrive at a required pre-tax income of €UR 190,000 / USD 245,000 / GBP 155,000 p.a. which does not take into consideration the multiple amount i'd have to spend for a home which i (we) consider comfortable.
Surely this is a gross understatement of your needs.
Only GBP 155,000pa? This is a mere 12,916 per calendar month. Even a moderately talented and beautiful 'entertainment provider' costs GBP 500 per night in London. That's GBP 15,208 per month on bedtime comfort alone.
I think you will struggle to be happy on such a low sum. Try for GBP 1 million after tax per annum. I am pretty sure it will provide a comfortable lifestyle for most reasonable needs of most moderate people like yourself.
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Robert Peston's blog on the BBC Business pages explains the link between base rate, now 3%, and actual consumer borrowing costs.
- Robert Peston
- 7 Nov 08, 10:41 AM
- www.bbc.co.uk
To save you the trouble here are some key quotes.
To a great extent, what really matters for the banks, when setting the interest rates they charge us, is what all the money raised from all those many different sources actually costs them, when it's all lumped together and averaged out.
Some of that money still costs them nothing or almost nothing. I'm talking about the funds that some of us still keep in current accounts that pay zilch.
So what is the average cost of money for our banks?
Well, it's not the Bank of England's 3% Bank Rate. Apart from anything else, that's a rate for borrowing overnight - and it would be foolish even by their standards for banks to set interest rates on loans to us with maturities of three months, or two years or five years on the basis of what they have to pay to borrow for 24 hours.
A traditional proxy for their average cost of money has been the three-month LIBOR rate, which is what banks pay for unsecured loans from other banks of three-month duration.
But, for what it's worth, those who operate in the market believe that three-month LIBOR will fix at just under 5% this morning.
Which would mean that the Bank of England's 1.5 percentage point cut had reduced the cost of money for banks by around 0.75 of a percentage point, perhaps a tiny bit more.
There is therefore an argument that mortgage rates and loans to businesses should be reduced by at least 0.75%.
The Chancellor understandably took the view that if taxpayers are in a sense insuring the money being borrowed by banks, we should be paid for that insurance.
But the cost of that insurance isn't cheap. It's working out at between 1.2% and 1.7% per annum of the amounts being borrowed for most banks.
That's 1.7% that has to be added to the 4 per cent or so interest-rate cost of the funds being raised.
In other, the price of money for banks under the government's own sponsored scheme is somewhere over 5%.
It's therefore very difficult to see how the banks can charge us less than the 5% that the Treasury is demanding they pay for the vital taxpayer-backed funds they need.
Unless, that is, the Chancellor were to decide that the banks should be transformed into loss-making public utilities.
UPDATE: 13:05
Three month sterling LIBOR has in fact fallen just over 1 percentage point to 4.49%.
- Robert Peston
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There's a strong case to be made suggesting that UK banks/building societies who offer deposit rates that are way over base, are in trouble. Offshore deposit takers in the Isle of Man were all the rage for a while there but as others have pointed in this forum, the top rate payers are all now out of business or government owned/backed.
HSBC in trouble? Anything is possible in this market but they managed to raise capital without taking help/loans from the UK Treasury.
how risky the market thinks these banks are in terms of five year senior debt CDSs:
Provider
Parent Company
Maximum Level of protection
CDS of Parent Company
HSBC, First Direct
HSBC Bank PLC
£50,000
64.3
Lloyds TSB, Cheltenham and Gloucester
Lloyds TSB Group PLC
£50,000 (in total)
77.7
Alliance and Leicester
Banco Santander
£50,000
83.0
Abbey, Asda, Bradford and Bingley, Cahoot
Banco Santander
£50,000 (in total)
83.0
Barclays, Woolwich
Barclays Bank PLC
£50,000 (in total)
100.7
Nationwide
Nationwide Building Society
£50,000
102.6
This is what HSBC wrote to me when I asked about a compensation scheme.
We regret that there is no compensation scheme for your funds.
HSBC is one of the World's largest banks, serving over 100 million customers in 85 countries and territories.
The Group's financial strength is built on maintaining a solid capital base, ensuring strong liquidity (including holding over USD1,000 billion customer deposits worldwide), a conservative appetite for risk and well diversified earnings both by geography and business type.
This primary focus on maintaining financial strength throughout our long history means that we are well-placed to navigate periods of economic and market instability.
Nationwide International has the usual limited UK government guarantee but also a further guarantee from the Nationwide Building Society to cover offshore depositors.
Does the UK interest rate differential with Singapore rates reflect the lack of a full deposit guarantee? Is a guarantee worth .5% on the deposit rates?
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BOE cut the rate BY 1.5% to 3%, this should be interesting. There must be a chance here that GBP will strengthen instead of fall as the world sees that the UK is serious about taking action. Oh bugger!
That's an interesting turn of events, I must say. As usual, I'm not sure what to make of it.
unfortunately it will teach a harsh lesson to our british friends who thought that 6%+ yield for cash GBP will be paid till pigs will grow wings and fly and the cows come home to roost in the chicken coop.
Nationwide International have dropped their one year fixed rate from 6.65% to 6.25%.
Offshore HSBC are offering six month fixes of UK pounds 5.25% Euro 4.5% USD 2,75%
Sounds like a fair deal to me.
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As a quick aside, anyone know if it's possible to open US$ account on online HSBC offshore. (Already have GBP acct.)
I think I might be needing some more US$ and that seems as though it could be the quickest solution.
Yes, if you are talking about Offshore.HSBC in Jersey. Just log on and do it. Up to you Euro, US $ or UK pounds.
Lots of other currencies too but some have minimum balances eg Swiss Franc or Hong Kong Dollar.
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Its not over yet!!!
Technically not........................ Sure, anything is possible. If you want to add a little drama to it, act like it isn't over, but it certainly isn't too early to reasonably assume which side will be celebrating ...
Here are the current odds quantified for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/search/labe...day%27s%20polls
Thank you. Yes the odds look good for your side. But it isn't over till the real poll. It reminds me of those lines in Dumb and Dumber
Lloyd: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?
Mary: Well, that's pretty difficult to say.
Lloyd: Hit me with it! I've come a long way to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance.
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Without taking sides about who should win, here is a bit of UK history.
In 1970 the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, decided to use his prerogative and call an election, twelve months before his term ended. The opinion polls consistently showed him to be 12% ahead. He was in effect, 'cutting and running' in case the economic situation deteriorated later.
On the Eve of the election, an opinion poll put him 8% ahead.
24 hours later, the leader of the opposition, Ted Heath was Prime Minister and Harold was moving out of Downing Street.
Harold Wilson is remembered in the UK for saying "A week in politics is a very long time".
Its not over yet!!!
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Anypone got some good advice for a farang girl new to Boyztown but wantint to know how it all works with the straight thai guys working there?
1 question inparticular - if the guy does a good job of making you think he likes you, goes home with you, takes your number before he leaves etc but then doesn't call does that mean the same as it would in our farang world? i.e don't waster any more energy on it?
If you are serious then read Private Dancer by Stephen Leather quick.
Same same whether its girls or boys.
Its all about money. They ALL 'do a good job of making you think he likes you'. That's their profession. Its called the GFE or in your case TBE the boyfriend experience.
Enjoy it, but it all means nothing!!
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I've been riding bikes for years and prefer non-linked as it's what I'm used to. I also like the option of using the back brake only to lose excess speed on slippy road surfaces.
I have searched TV for a discussion of Combi Brakes but nothing much comes up.
As I understand it the Honda design splits 70% of the power you apply to the left brake lever to the rear brake and 30% to the front. (You can use just the one lever and use your right hand for other important matters like texting on your cell phone or holding hands with your passenger!
) . This, Honda claims, is the optimum for straight line stable braking.My own experience was that it works very well.
You can still use both levers if you wish and you simply over-ride the combi feature, In an emergency I found myself pulling up using both levers as an instinctive survival response born of years of riding all sorts of motorbikes.
As a test of the system, I braked on the sharp downhill bends on Pratunmak Road. (A long time ago I dropped a bike doing the same thing and gave myself a bad fright
). Since then I have always tried to brake before a bend and gently accelerate out of it.The Honda held its line and slowed down without any drama. It was impressive.
Regarding slippy surfaces. The larger Elegance wheels felt more stable and safer to me than the smaller Airblade wheels but there is not a huge difference. I hit a large pothole on Soi NernPlubwaan when a truck pushed me off my chosen line and despite the noisy impact I was not thrown off the bike and survived without even a buckled wheel. I am not going to repeat the experiment on an Airblade but I suspect that the Airblade would have suffered more.
Thais are fortunate in having such a choice of small framed bikes that fit them well. The Honda Sonic is a hoot to drive as are some of the Waves and step through scooters. But they are all too small and uncomfortable for me.
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Hmmm....the Airblade feels heavy?
I think it is fun to ride. Had Nouvos and all that stuff before, but the Airblade is the best overall.
Yes. I like the Airblade too but it did 'feel heavy' when manouvering at slow speeds. I wonder whether that's because of the wider tyres?
I said 'feels heavy' because I don't know if it actually is any heavier than the Nouvo Elegance (not MX). Can't read the Thai specification leaflets.
How do you manage to carry stuff or do you use a car?
Chaimai. I forgot to mention under AGAINST. The rear footpegs are too high for me. An after market mod would solve the problem but my knees are much too high up when riding as a passenger. Its no problem for Thai ladies.
Pattaya GoGos usually have at least one girl with a Pattaya Birthmark on her inside leg. I always assumed it was courtesy of Honda not Yamaha who usually put heat shields on the exhaust pipe. In any other country, legal action for damages would have eradicated this Red Hot Feature years ago. But TIT.
:D 
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Respect Jamesjimmy.
You can certainly write exciting sales prose. I am breathless. It deserves a feature in The Walking Street Journal. Wow and only 12.5m baht!
As it happens I also have a vet who has given me a vetted value of 25m baht for a rare antique velocipede. Imagine floating along on those softly inflated cushions of bracing sea air as you traverse the streets of this earthly paradise on the pristine coast of the exotic Gulf of Siam.. Listen enraptured to the sonorous calls from the bars of Soi 6. "Hey hansum man, why you no let me sit on crossbar?"
A straight swop?
Best of luck. Its a bargain for someone.