With the expansion of their drivetrain systems across a more affordable range comes the highly anticipated addition of drop bar CUES! Cross compatible from 8-11 speeds, Shimano’s drop bar CUES features hydraulic and mechanical disc brake offerings, as well as a 1 and 2x setups. For more on drop bar CUES, read on…
Adding to their lineup of 8 through 11 speed CUES drivetrains, Shimano’s new Drop bar CUES system brings even more versatility to their affordable, wide range drivetrains. Though CUES derailleurs and flat bar systems have been on the market for some time, the addition of hydraulic disc brakes and their correlated STI shifters gives manufacturers and those looking for a drop-bar option a bit more versatility in their configurations.

Though CUES compatibility extends from 8 to 11 speed drivetrains, the new drop bar CUES offers hydraulic disc brakes solely through its 10 and 11 speed 6000 series. Their new Hollowtech 2x cranks are natively 9 and 10 speed compatible, while the 1x cranks are 9-11 speed compatible. The two 2x cranks, FC-U6030-2 and FC-U6040-2, both offer two distinct chainring combinations of 46-32 and 50-34T, while 1x cranks have 40 and 42t options. The cranksets are also offered in 165, 170, 172.5, and 175mm lengths, and feature a 47mm chainline for the 2x, and a 50mm chainline for the 1x.
Shimano Drop-Bar ESSA 1×8
The drop bar and disc brake offerings don’t stop at the 10 and 11 speed systems however, as the 8 and 9 speed CUES drivetrains now include mechanical disc caliper versions. The same 2x features apply, with a myriad of lengths and and ranges available out of the box. Shimano’s ESSA 1×8 speed system, for example, now has a drop-bar option with a massive 11-45T (11-13-15-18-22-27-35-45T) cassette. Within these new products is Shimano’s new RD-U4010-SS, a derailleur meant for smaller, 20″ wheelsize bikes. The RD-U4010-SS offers 30% more ground clearance than the standard CUES RD mech, with a bit more tire clearance as well. All Shimano CUES drop bar products are compatible with their durable Hyperglide chains.
Shimano Drop-Bar CUES Pricing
Though global pricing isn’t available quite yet, 1 and 2x 6000 series CUES examples are listed below. However, CUES systems will primarily be available through OEM partnerships with Trek, Surly, Specialized, Cannondale, and Wilde bikes, among others.
SHIMANO DROP BAR CUES U6000 1×11 160mm rotors
- REAR DERAILLEUR, RD-U6000: $69.99
- FC-U6040-1, CUES HOLLOWTECH 2 CRANK, 42T: $80.00
- DISC BRAKE KIT for 160MM rotors, resin pads, housing, and left and right shift levers: $578.00
- ROTORS, SM-RT56, S 160MM, 6-BOLT TYPE: $39.98
- CHAIN, CN-LG500, 126 Links, LINKGLIDE: $22.99
- CASSETTE, CS-LG400-11, LINKGLIDE, 11-SPEED, 11-50T: $109.99
- TOTAL: $900.95
SHIMANO DROP BAR CUES U6000 2×10 160mm rotors
- REAR DERAILLEUR, RD-U6020: $54.99
- FRONT DERAILLEUR, FD-U6030: $40.00
- FC-U6040-2, CUES, HOLLOWTECH CRANK, 46-32T: $88.00
- DISC BRAKE KIT for 160MM rotors, resin pads, housing, and left and right shift levers: $590.00
- ROTORS, SM-RT56, S 160MM, 6-BOLT TYPE: $39.98
- CHAIN, CN-LG500, 126 Links, LINKGLIDE: $22.99
- CASSETTE, CS-LG400-10, CUES, 10-SPEED, 11-39T: $59.99
- TOTAL: $895.95
For more on Shimano Drop Bar CUES, visit LifestyleBike.Shimano.com.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.