HSTC is Honda’s traction control system, and it has reached Vietnamese scooters: the SH160i ABS versions carry it - the first mainstream application of its kind in the country’s scooter market. Here is exactly what Honda Vietnam says about it.
What HSTC is
Honda Vietnam describes HSTC (Honda Selectable Torque Control) as a system that uses wheel-speed sensors on the front and rear wheels to calculate rear-wheel slip. When it detects the rear tyre losing grip under acceleration, it manages engine torque to help control the slip, giving the rider more confidence when opening the throttle.
Where it is available
On the current SH160i/125i range, HSTC is fitted to the ABS versions (the Sport, Special and Premium versions) - it is not on the standard versions, so version choice matters. The rest of Honda’s Vietnamese scooter range does not have it. See which scooters have ABS in Vietnam for the related braking picture.
What it is for in Vietnamese conditions
Painted road markings, wet season streets, gravel washed onto corners and dusty dry-season surfaces all reduce grip under power - the exact situations where slip happens. HSTC intervenes on acceleration, which is also when a pillion raises the stakes; see our two-up guide.
What Honda explicitly says it does not do
Honda’s own page is unusually direct: HSTC does not eliminate rear-wheel slip entirely, it only assists against slipping during acceleration, and the rider remains responsible for safe riding. It does nothing for braking (that is ABS’s job, covered in our ABS guide) and nothing for front-wheel grip. It is an aid, not a licence - our emergency braking and post-rain riding guides cover the skills it does not replace.
Should it affect your choice?
If you are choosing between SH versions and ride in the wet with a passenger, the ABS-plus-HSTC version is a sensible upgrade. If you ride gently at city speeds in dry weather, you may never feel it work. Do not let any assistance system decide fit or licence questions - and contact us to confirm current availability of any rental model.