Shimano has unveiled its new CUES U4030 9-speed shifters, which bring hydraulic braking to 9-speed level for the first time.
The ever-expanding CUES range now surpasses Shimano Sora. It ensures improved hydraulic braking for Shimano-equipped entry-level road and gravel bikes.
The new 9-speed shifters mean that, with other CUES components, it’s finally possible to have a 9-speed groupset with hydraulic brake calipers in both 1x and 2x drop-bar setups.
The U4030 units come in three versions:
- CUES ST-U4030-9R right-hand 9-speed Dual Control Lever
- CUES ST-U4030-L left-hand Dual Control Lever
- CUES BL-U4030-L left-hand hydraulic brake lever for front single setups
Great for new riders and those on a budget
On sub-£1,000 / $1,200 road and gravel bikes, it’s tough to find many options with hydraulic disc brakes. Shimano-equipped budget bikes use cable discs (at Sora level). For budget gravel bikes, there are a few options, including Microshift groupsets or hybrid solutions such as TRP’s HY/RD.
Shimano’s hydraulic disc braking is universally excellent on road and gravel bikes. With the new 9-speed lever sharing the same architecture as the 10/11-speed CUES options, we know the ergonomics will be spot-on.
The CUES caliper BR-U6030, which I’ve used extensively on my 1990s MTB to gravel bike conversion, is an excellent brake. We now look set to see entry-level gravel and road bikes elevated to performance levels not seen before.
Brakes with better feel and ample power will add confidence for less experienced riders. It’ll also mean riders on a budget won't feel short-changed and in need of upgrades.
Great news for Shimano
Shimano has faced increasing competition across road and gravel groupsets, with SRAM's elevation in the high-end and mid-range gravel groupsets market seeing it assume top spot.
We’ve also seen a reinvigorated Campagnolo not only challenging Dura-Ace with Super Record, but also Ultegra Di2 and GRX Di2 with the recently launched Record/Record X 13-speed.
Where neither SRAM nor Campagnolo can challenge Shimano, however, is at the entry level.
SRAM’s Apex is an excellent gravel groupset, but it's much more costly than CUES, while Campagnolo hasn't had an entry-level offering in decades. Microshift has some great budget options, but it can't match Shimano’s reach. We've seen interesting developments in Chinese groupsets, too, but nothing with the prestige and recognition of Shimano’s name.
Shimano’s long history of attracting new riders with affordable groupsets on affordable bikes has always proved successful.
I had reservations about CUES when it was first released, and on the road, I still do, but in filling in the gaps, Shimano may well have sown the seeds for more generations of loyal riders. SRAM, Campagnolo, Microshift et al should take note.
