The new Shimano CUES and ESSA shift-brake levers transform the less costly groupsets into gravel and road-worthy options. These lines were formally only available for recreational flat-bar city and mountain bikes.
The CUES expansion brings Shimano’s proven budget drivetrains to the drop-bar crowd. Both 1x and 2x cranksets pair with 9-, 10-, and 11-speed cassettes, drastically lowering the cost of all-road and gravel commuter and other drop-bar builds. CUES has LINKGLIDE technology, which has proven reliable shifting under load.
Plus, there are new CUES components for kids’ bikes or smaller commuters. A new short cage derailleur improves ground clearance for bikes with 20-inch wheels. This is matched with a “child-sized” brake rotor.
Although CUES is the big news, Shimano also released drop-bar levers for its entry-level ESSA 8-speed drivetrain.
Editor’s note: This story is based on early reporting by BikeRumor.com.
Shimano CUES 9-, 10-, and 11-Speed Drivetrains
The Logic Behind Shimano CUES
Shimano’s extension of its CUES components finally brings its budget-friendly yet durable drivetrains to the drop-bar market. CUES also fills the substantial void between its budget lineup and the premium performance 105 groupset.
In my opinion, Shimano CUES might just be the best, underrated drivetrain out there. Adding drop-bar levers with hydraulic disc brakes made it even better. CUES might have been overlooked due to the confusing LINKGLIDE drivetrain options and compatibility issues. Its 9- and 10-speed gearing requires the old Shimano HG freehub, while 11-speed versions need the wider MicroSpline freehub.
Indeed, one of Shimano’s goals was to simplify things for dealers. The addition of drop-bar levers coincides with the elimination of a host of lower-level road and gravel components. Now, CUES represents the brand’s lower-level 9- to 11-speed drivetrains, and ESSA covers the even lower-priced, entry-level 8-speed options.
Additionally, all 9- to 11-speed options use the same new 11-speed chain. Shimano claims the chain is stronger and has a longer service life than previous 8- to 10-speed units. This chain is much more affordable than 12-speed models.
An important aspect of CUES is that in a time when ever-thinner cassettes and chains squeeze more gears into the same space, Shimano went against the tide. CUES LINKGLIDE has thicker, more durable cassettes, resulting in substantially longer life and durability. The cassettes can better withstand shifting under load.
This may not be a concern for experienced cyclists, but it’s a big help to new riders. And it’s an absolute necessity for e-bikes, as it’s common to shift while an electric motor drives the chain.
What’s Actually New?
Dual Control Levers
To make CUES work on drop-bar bikes and 2x drivetrains, Shimano only had to add a few components: shifters, flat-mount brakes, a front derailleur, and a few new crankset configurations.
The combined shifters and brakes are the most expensive part, selling for ~$280-300 per side, including brake calipers. After all, they are functionally the same as the latest 105 mechanical dual controls but with fewer gears. And they appear to have the same ergonomics.
Interestingly, the rear derailleur’s dual control levers work for 10- or 11-speed drivetrains. This drastically lowers the cost of switching from one to the other later, as long as you aren’t moving between 1x and 2x.
Brakes
New flat-mount brake calipers are probably the most unique component of the new Shimano CUES drop-bar groupset.
The new Shimano CUES hydraulic disc brakes have a special front caliper that accommodates 160mm rotors on the flat-mount standard without the usual adapter bracket. This means it is incompatible with 140mm rotors, and forks with 160mm mount may require a 180mm rotor.
The same applies to the CUES rear calipers. A flat mount adapter isn’t required to run a 160mm rotor. Again, the caliper is incompatible with 140mm rotors, and if the mount is meant for a 160mm rotor, a 180mm may be necessary.
There are also less expensive 9/10-speed CUES mechanical shift dual control levers for use with Shimano mechanical disc brakes. These will work for both 9- and 10-speed cassettes, but Shimano offers 1x or 2x specific pairs.
Front Derailleur
Finally, the CUES 2 x 9- or 10-speed front derailleur is new. Available for braze-on or clamp mount, one front derailleur can work with all CUES 2x drivetrains, each with a +2.5mm chain line offset to clear the en-vogue wider tires.
Drivetrain Configurations
The new CUES 2x option requires several new HOLLOWTECH aluminum alloy cranksets. These are the same cranks as before but with new 46/32T and 50/34T chainring combinations. Shimano updated the 1x cranks with 40T & 42T chainrings, which are more suitable for gravel and road riding.
Shimano CUES for Kids and Commuters
Shimano added a CUES short cage 9/10-speed Shadow derailleur for small 20″ and 24″ wheeled bikes. It will still work with an 11-39T cassette. For 20″ wheels, Shimano claims it adds 30% more ground clearance.
A 140mm six-bolt CUES-level brake rotor provides a more appropriate level of stopping power for kids’ mountain bikes. Too much braking power makes it difficult for children to modulate the brakes, so a smaller rotor addresses this issue.
Shimano CUES Drop Bar Pricing and Availability
Shimano stated that several OEM partners already specified the CUES drop-bar drivetrain on production bikes. This includes bikes from Cannondale, Fuji, Giant, Marin, Salsa, Specialized, Surly, and Trek, to name a handful. Expect those OEM CUES drop-bar bikes to pop up later in spring 2025. Shimano didn’t offer any information on the retail pricing of these bikes.
Aftermarket CUES components will be available at about the same time as the OEM bicycles. Shimano stated that a complete 1×11-speed CUES build kit (levers, brake calipers and rotors, 1x crankset, rear derailleur, cassette, and chain) will have an MSRP of $896. A 2×10-speed kit with the same parts plus a front derailleur and a 2x crankset will retail for $891.
The mechanical disc brake CUES drop-bar (9- or 10-speed) and mechanical disc brake ESSA Drop Bar 1 x 8-speed groupset (below) will cost just a fraction of that.
Shimano ESSA Changes
Even more affordable than CUES, the Shimano ESSA groupset also gets dual control drop-bar levers. Again, it looks to have Shimano’s mechanical shift lever ergonomics. The ESSA drivetrain opens up lower-cost 1x setups with a wide-ranging 11-45T cassette out back.
No pricing was available at the time of publication.
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