Shimano Cues: Special edition of the affordable road bike components
TOUR
· 10.10.2025
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Shimano was and still is synonymous with high-quality metal processing. In view of the modern, rather angular design and the mostly dark anodised surfaces, this may no longer be quite so visible today - but Shimano's reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality and elegant road bike components is still characterised today by the flowing shapes and highly polished surfaces of Dura-Ace, Ultegra and Co.
High-quality metal processing
Shimano is now presenting a special edition of the relatively new Cues component family - in its own words, as a tribute to the one hundred year old tradition of metal processing. Under this name, the Japanese manufacturer does not offer a harmonised component group as usual, but a kind of component kit. The parts were originally designed for trekking bikes and inexpensive mountain bikes; they could be used to assemble drivetrains with nine to eleven sprockets and one or two chainrings. Now that Shimano has discontinued the affordable Sora and Tiagra road bike component groupsets due to market and price developments, the Cues family has taken over their role, supplemented by shift brake levers for road handlebars and adapted gear ratios.
Noble and versatile
The special edition of the Cues components now comes in an elegant polished silver colour. This gives the parts a classic look reminiscent of the heyday of polished aluminium components. Shimano emphasises that the parts are technically and ergonomically up to date; the Cues components can be interchanged across all types of bike - from derailleur pulleys to cassettes and chains. With standardised sprocket spacing across all drivetrain variants, Cues is the most compatible and versatile component range, according to the manufacturer.
The Shimano Cues components of the special edition at a glance
RD-U6000 - Polished Silver Cues rear derailleur
- Tenfold, Linkglide
- Max. large sprocket: 50 teeth
- Centre cage
- Available here
CS-LG400-10 - Plated Silver Cassette
- Tenfold, Linkglide
- Gear ratio 11-48 teeth
FC-U6030-1 - Polished Silver Cues crankset
- Chainring options: 40 teeth, 42 teeth
- Chainline: 50 mm
- Crank arm lengths: 170 mm, 172.5 mm, 175 mm
- Two-piece crank: 1 x 11 / 10 / 9-speed
HB / FH-QC400 - Polished Silver hubs
- Sealed bearings with contact seal
ST-U6030-R - Polished Silver hydraulic dual control lever
- Ergonomic design, shorter lever travel for different hand sizes
- Compatible with ten- and eleven-speed drives.
BL-U6030-L - Polished Silver hydraulic brake lever
BR-U6030 - Polished Silver hydraulic flat mount brake caliper
- For standard 160 mm brake discs
- Adapterless flat-mount design
