Price-performance ratio is great.

Originally posted on Galaxus

Shimano CUES with LinkGlide – the future of shifting comfort. I’ve been riding with Shimano CUES from 9-speed to 10 and 11-speed for some time now – and I'm absolutely thrilled. The combination of the new CUES group and LinkGlide technology has completely changed my shifting experience. Anyone who has previously used Altus, Acera, Alivio, or even Deore and SLX will feel the difference immediately: it's simply a whole different level. What makes LinkGlide special is what happens beneath the surface: Shimano has revamped the tooth profiles of the cassette – with flatter, more stable teeth and optimized shift edges. The result is an extremely smooth gear change – even under load. You ride, shift – and the chain glides noticeably quietly and smoothly into the next gear, almost by itself. No jolting, no grinding, no delay. Just "clean." One point I find unfortunate: all CUES groups use LinkGlide, but Shimano offers them in various quality levels marked with designations like U4000, U6000, or U8000. U4000 is the 9-speed version that utilizes LinkGlide but consists of cheaper materials and simpler construction. U6000 (10-speed) and U8000 (11-speed), on the other hand, come with significantly higher-quality components – essentially on par with Deore or even XT. For me personally, it would be ideal if Shimano offered a 9-speed CUES group in U8000 quality (essentially XT quality). I don't need 11 speeds, even with my 45 e-bike, 9 gears are absolutely sufficient, but I don't want to compromise on material quality. For anyone needing fewer gears but valuing top-notch craftsmanship, that would be the perfect solution. Unfortunately, there is currently no 8-speed version with LinkGlide – there's still potential for that. Shimano CUES with LinkGlide is primarily designed for mountain bikes, trekking, touring, and e-bikes, not for road or gravel bikes. Nevertheless, the advantages

Originally posted on Galaxus