What is CUES?
The CUES series, released by SHIMANO, is designed for a wide range of uses, from city riding to casual sport riding, while also accounting for the growing trend of E-bike integration. It is a component line that offers high durability and enables comfortable shifting.
For those not accustomed to sport bikes, it provides such a comfortable operating feel that they don't have to worry about the hassle of shifting, allowing them to focus on things other than the bike—like the scenery or conversation—while riding. Above all, it is offered at an accessible price point, making it a component that is truly an unsung hero.
Of course, there are plenty of other options if you are looking for a higher-quality ride, but for those searching for their first bike or who simply want to enjoy cycling as a tool that connects their daily life with leisure, it comes with all the necessary functions. It is a component line that Circles recommends with confidence.
Since its announcement, we at Circles have already proposed it for assembly on numerous bikes.
Polish Silver Edition
As mentioned in a previous blog post, a polished silver line-up has now been added to the CUES series.
At that stage, only the hubs had arrived, but now that the other components are in stock, we are fully prepared to offer custom builds from the frameset up, so we wanted to introduce them again.
We have already started assembling original bikes using CUES Polish Silver.
WILDE Rambler SL x CUES Polish Silver
The bike we built up is the Rambler SL, the gravel all-rounder that WILDE prides itself on. With a 1x drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, it’s a modern setup, but the elegance of the silver finish allows for a wider variety of assembly aesthetics.
For this build, we intentionally paired it with black parts to make the silver pop, but of course, you could also enjoy the classic, clean look of an all-silver build.
The 40T front ring + 11-48T (10-speed) rear cassette combination is just right, bringing out the best in this bike for everything from gravel rides to one-day tours and fast touring.
By the way, the CUES hydraulic disc brake (BR-U6030) has a one-piece structure that doesn't require a disc mount adapter, which is a big plus for me personally as it looks much cleaner when installed.
I think this detail exists because CUES was designed for use with 160mm rotors—the most common size for bikes intended for this type of use—and because it wasn't designed as a flagship model, but rather with the intent of reaching general users where pure weight saving isn't the only priority.
The fact that SHIMANO is putting so much effort into developing these non-flagship models is undoubtedly a reassuring option for those who want to enjoy cycling as a lifestyle, and for us at Circles, the existence of components in this range is truly appreciated.
This bike is currently on display at our store as a demo bike, so if you are interested, please come by and try it out.
At Circles, we are particularly focused on the mechanical lineup
For us at Circles, we couldn't overlook the fact that they offer STI levers compatible with mechanical brakes.
Because of that, we have stocked up on the following CUES Polish Silver items at our shop.
・CUES Crankset FC-U6030-1
・CUES Rear Derailleur RD-U6000
・CUES Shift/Brake Lever (for Drop Handlebars) ST-U3030-10R 10-Speed Dual Control Lever
・SHIMANO CUES Brake Lever (for Drop Handlebars) BL-U3030-L
・CUES Sprocket CS-LG400-10S
・CN-LG500 9/10/11s
Of course, we are also happy to discuss hydraulic builds, so please feel free to reach out.
What about the price?
If you've read this far, you might be thinking, "So, how much does this groupset cost?"
With SHIMANO's mission to provide "the reliability of a high-end groupset at an accessible price point" in mind, I have taken the liberty of comparing it to components that seem like natural competitors.
Mechanical Brakes: Comparison with microSHIFT Sword
| CUES Polish Silver / 10-speed 40T x 11-48T | microSHIFT Sword / 10-speed 40T x 11-48T | |
| Dual Control Lever | ST-U3030-R / BL-U3030-L : 36,301 JPY | Drop Bar Shifter 1x10Speed : 24,200 JPY |
| Crankset | FC-U6030-1 : 16,139 JPY | Crank Set / Front Single : 18,040 JPY |
| Rear Derailleur | RD-U6000 : 11,607 JPY | Rear Derailleur 1x10Speed : 12,100 JPY |
| Sprocket | CS-LG400-10s : 9,961 JPY | Advent X G-Series 10 Speed Cassette : 9,460 JPY |
| Chain | CN-LG500 : 3,567 JPY | CN-HG95 : 4,244 JPY |
| Total | 77,575 JPY (incl. tax) | 68,044 JPY (incl. tax) |
Starting with mechanical brakes. For a wide-ratio component compatible with a 1x drivetrain, choices are already quite limited simply because it needs to be compatible with mechanical brakes, so the main rival is naturally the microSHIFT Sword.
Looking at this comparison, the cost-performance of the microSHIFT Sword is evident.
Sword only comes in black, so it’s a good choice for those who aren't particular about silver. However, having the option of a beautiful polished silver finish and a modern component set for a small upcharge is quite attractive. Many people really love SHIMANO's crisp shifting feel, and this price range is a welcome addition.
Hydraulic Brakes: Comparison with GRX
| CUES Polish Silver / 10-speed 40T x 11-48T | GRX / 12-speed 40T x 10-51T | |
| Dual Control Lever | ST-U6030-R / BL-U6030-L : 51,108 JPY | ST-RX820-R / BL-RX820-L : 62,242 JPY |
| Brake | BR-U6030 F/R : 15,891 JPY | BR-RX820 F/R : 19,353 JPY |
| Crankset | FC-U6030-1 : 16,139 JPY | FC-RX820-1 : 29,630 JPY |
| Rear Derailleur | RD-U6000 : 11,607 JPY | RD-RX822 : 15,531 JPY |
| Sprocket | CS-LG400-10s : 9,961 JPY | CS-M7100 : 13,967 JPY |
| Chain | CN-LG500 : 3,567 JPY | CN-M7100 : 4,701 JPY |
| Total | 108,273 JPY (incl. tax) | 145,424 JPY (incl. tax) |
For hydraulic brakes, I compared it with the 12-speed GRX.
GRX is positioned as the flagship for pure gravel components, so CUES is naturally more affordable, but what I personally want to draw attention to is that while GRX uses a Micro Spline, CUES uses the traditional 10-speed HG spline.
This expands the hub choices and makes it easier to use existing wheels. (In many cases, hubs compatible with Micro Spline tend to drive up the budget.)
And we cannot overlook the LINKGLIDE system used in the CUES series. This drive system, which has three times the durability of the conventional HYPERGLIDE (HG), not only provides a longer life and prevents chain skip, but also suppresses the "clunk" shock of shifting, leading to smoother shifting and pedaling.
True to their claim of it being the ultimate utility drivetrain aimed at seamless shifting and pedal performance that can withstand long-term use, I think this component is well-suited for people who ride daily, those who are new to these types of sport bikes, and the diversifying life of bicycles including cargo bikes and E-bikes.
CUES Polish Silver. Please keep it on your radar.
We are already receiving requests for CUES Polish Silver builds at the store, and we are working through them in order.
We are also working on assembling original bikes using CUES Polish Silver, so stay tuned!