Shimano CUES Components Lineup and Compatibility Guide

Grades Overview

Shimano CUES components feature three main grades and one sub-series.

1. U8000
2. U6000
3. U4000
4. U3000

Let’s first look at the differences in specifications for each of them.

U8000 (11-speed)

The highest-grade CUES series is the U8000. The rear derailleur offers 11 speeds, and the front can be configured as either a single or double chainring. In line with the latest MTB trends, you can set it up with a front single 1x11 speed or choose a road-like 2x11 configuration for a total of 22 gears.

The braking system is hydraulic only, and the shifting is mechanical only. The rear derailleur offers a top smallest cog of 11T, similar to the traditional 11-speed setup, but the largest low cog goes up to 50T, providing a large MTB-like sprocket option.

U6000 (10/11-speed)

The U6000 is a more affordable version of the U8000 and sits in the middle of the CUES lineup. The U6000 (11-speed) has the same technical structure as the U8000 except for weight, while the U6000 (10-speed) is a variant with 10 speeds.

The rear derailleur, brakes, and some other components are shared, so you can upgrade from 10-speed to 11-speed with minimal changes.

In January 2025, Shimano released the CUES STI levers for drop handlebars, and the 11-speed version belongs to the U6000 series.

U4000 (9-speed)

The entry-level CUES series is the U4000. It offers 9 speeds, with the largest low cog being 46T, which is smaller compared to the higher-end models. You can choose between a single or double front chainring.

U3000 (9-speed/10-speed)

Released in January 2025, the CUES drop-bar STI levers for 9-speed and 10-speed come under the U3000 series, with two models: U3030-10 (10-speed) and U3030-9 (9-speed). Although they are technically part of the U4000 series, they carry the U3000 designation, making this a bit confusing.

The primary difference between the U6000 (11-speed) STI lever and the U3000 levers is not just the number of speeds, but also that the braking system is mechanical only. This means that with CUES’ 9-speed and 10-speed setups for road or gravel bikes, you can’t use hydraulic disc brakes.

Since Shimano’s mechanical disc brakes are limited in choice, those planning to build a disc-brake road bike with CUES should be aware of this.

For those looking to modernize older rim-brake bikes like SORA or TIAGRA that haven’t been updated in a while, CUES’ 9-speed and 10-speed options might be the perfect choice for a more contemporary gear setup.

CUES Component Lineup by Part

CUES adopts the “LINKGLIDE” shifting system, which is not compatible with existing road or MTB components, so the CUES components focus primarily on the drivetrain. For drivetrain components, the sprockets and chains are not exclusive to CUES and are shared with existing parts.

Additionally, regarding brakes, the only lineup available under CUES is the U8000 series, while the other grades are intended to be combined with existing models.

The differences between the models are:

1. Front shifting (indicated by “-number”)
2. Boost standard compatibility (indicated by “-B”)
3. Last two digits of the number (e.g., XX10, XX20)
4. Clamp type (e.g., “-D”)

Also, there are cases where there is vertical compatibility in the front area (cranksets, front derailleurs), so it’s a good idea to refer to Shimano’s compatibility chart when selecting parts.

STI Levers Added to Lineup in January 2025

At the time of the initial release, CUES did not include STI levers in its lineup, but STI levers for CUES were released in January 2025.

CUES’ STI levers come in two grades: U6000 and U3000. The U6000 supports 11-speed, while the U3000 supports 10-speed and 9-speed.

The CUES STI levers use mechanical shifting only. The brakes for the 11-speed ST-U6000 are hydraulic, while the 9-speed and 10-speed ST-U3000 are for mechanical brakes only.

Both STI levers support front double setups.

CUES uses the LINKGLIDE technology shifting system, so it is incompatible with existing road and gravel 9-11 speed components.

CUES Compatibility with Traditional MTB Components

CUES has been released as a new component system for MTB and lifestyle genres. However, it is generally incompatible with traditional MTB components. Even with components like sprockets, which were previously shared between road and MTB, LINKGLIDE-compatible versions are necessary, making them incompatible with older systems.

Regarding the chain, since CUES uses an 11-speed chain for all gearing ranges, traditional 11-speed chains are compatible with all CUES components. Disc rotors can also be used as long as the pad shape is compatible.

For brake systems, in flat-bar components, the drivetrain and brakes are separate, so if the lever and caliper are used together, traditional MTB brakes can be used. However, CUES does not offer a rim brake lineup.

For road brake systems, since the STI levers combine shifting and braking, the shifting is not compatible with CUES, making it effectively unusable.

As for CUES’ disc brake system compatibility, Shimano’s compatibility chart shows that CUES can only be used with CUES and METREA brakes, so it is not compatible with traditional MTB hydraulic brake systems.