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 U8000 series is the top-grade lineup in the CUES range. The rear derailleur supports 11 speeds, and you can choose between a single or double front chainring. You can build a 1x11-speed setup with a front single chainring to match the latest MTB trends, or opt for a road-like 2x11-speed (22 gears) configuration with a front double chainring for a wider range of gear options.

The braking system is exclusively hydraulic, and shifting is mechanical only. The rear derailleur accommodates a minimum top cog of 11T, just like conventional 11-speed systems, but the maximum low cog is a massive 50T, allowing for an MTB-style large sprocket.

Initially, only mechanical shifting was available, but in June 2025, the Di2-compatible U8050 series was released. The U8050 series is the first CUES component to support Di2 and is compatible only with a front single chainring. The rear derailleur supports either 10-speed (RD-U8050-GS) or 11-speed (RD-U8050-SGS) setups.

Additionally, the U8050 series appears to be designed to work in conjunction with Shimano’s newly announced automatic shifting system, “Q’AUTO.”）¹

U6000 (10/11-speed)

The U6000 (11-speed) is positioned as a more affordable version of CUES’ top-grade U8000, while the U6000 (10-speed) represents the mid-tier option among CUES’ gear range.

Technically, the U6000 (11-speed) shares the same configuration as the top-tier U8000, except for weight and a few details. The U6000 (10-speed) is essentially a 10-speed version of this setup. Since components like the rear derailleur and brakes are shared, it is possible to upgrade from a 10-speed to an 11-speed U6000 by replacing only some parts. Notably, among the CUES drop-bar STI levers announced in January 2025, the 11-speed model belongs to the U6000 series.

In June 2025, the Di2-compatible U6050 series was released as part of the U6000 lineup. The U6050 series supports only a front single chainring, with the rear derailleur compatible with 10-speed (RD-U6050) and 11-speed (RD-U6070) setups. Like the U8050 series, it appears to be designed for use with Shimano’s newly announced automatic shifting system, “Q’AUTO.”）¹

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.

Di2 Added to the Lineup in June 2025

As mentioned in the series explanations, the Di2-compatible U8050 and U6050 series were released in June 2025, adding electronic shifting options to the CUES lineup.

CUES Di2 supports only a front single chainring, and you can choose between 11-speed and 10-speed for the rear.

1. 11-speed: U8050-SGS (11-speed) and U6070 (11-speed)
2. 10-speed: U8050-GS (10-speed) and U6050 (10-speed)

According to Shimano’s Di2 compatibility chart, the master unit for CUES Di2 is the Q’AUTO-exclusive hub dynamo “FH-U6060”², which may mean it cannot be used outside the Q’AUTO series at this time.

For shift switches, CUES Di2 is compatible with existing SD300-series road STI levers, satellite switches, and SD300-series MTB Di2 switches, making it technically possible to build an “AUTO SHIFT-compatible, DURA-ACE component road bike” setup.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About CUES Components