Lauf is a bike brand that bucks the system a bit. During the e-bike power race, they equip a bike with a modest 350W of power. They ditch “fancy” suspension platforms for a simplistic single-pivot. They build a short-travel e-bike with XC geometry up front, but enduro chainstays at the rear. All of this comes together to create the eElja, an e-bike that’s one of the lightest in its class.
Lauf eElja key specs
- 140/130mm suspension front/rear, XC-inspired trail bike
- TQ HPR60 motor and 360Wh battery
- 350W of power and 60Nm torque
- 37.7lbs claimed weight
- Price: $8,490 (current sale: $7,590)
- Buy from Lauf Cycles
A true single-pivot design
Iceland-based Lauf is known for interesting leaf-spring-style carbon suspension forks and gravel bikes. A few years ago, they dipped their toes in the mountain bike waters with the introduction of an equally unique bike, the Elja.
Earlier this year, Lauf beefed up the Elja just a touch, added a TQ HPR60 drive unit, and released the eElja. Like its non-electrified counterpart, the eElja sports a unique take on a single-pivot suspension design. Staying true to their leaf-spring heritage, Lauf utilizes “leaf springs,” or “flex arms,” as they call them, connected to the shock to relieve lateral loads that can be placed on the shock by the single pivot.
Using the flex arms, Lauf can also place the pivot point far ahead of the bottom bracket, helping to achieve the kinematics they desire.
Lauf’s LSP suspension platform (which stands for “Lauf Single Pivot,” not “Leaf Spring Pivot”) is a true single-pivot — no linkages or extra bits. “Decades ago, multi-link suspension designs introduced the (awesome) possibility of ramping up their coil-spring suspension stiffness toward the end of suspension travel.” According to Lauf, they use the single-pivot platform because modern air shocks provide the ample tuning and progressivity that multiple links deliver.
Bottom bracket pivot hardware
Lauf uses bottom-bracket hardware for an oversized take on a pivot because true single-pivots generally have quite a bit of lateral flex. Utilizing a bottom bracket as the pivot drastically increases lateral stiffness and takes stress away from the pivot point.
I generally like single-pivots, though most of my experience has been on linkage-driven single-pivots, like the full-suspension bikes from Kona. The LSP platform on the eElja is sporty and supportive when climbing, yet supple and smooth on the descents. While a new bottom bracket is more expensive than new pivot bearings, I like the unique take and easy maintenance when it comes time to switch it out (it’s just a BSA DUB bottom bracket).
Or is it the geometry?
Maybe the smooth ride isn’t entirely due to the LSP suspension. The size medium eElja I tested sports a long 448mm chainstay, likely adding to the smooth, planted feeling the bike provides. And 448mm for chainstays is just one more unusual part of this unique bike.
Every other geo point on the Lauf eElja is right in step with a short-travel trail or downcountry bike. My size medium has a moderate 446mm reach, a 65.1° head tube angle, and a 76.3° seat tube angle. The stack height is fairly low at 619mm, and the wheelbase, despite the long stays, is short at 1,213mm.
All of these numbers point to a bike that is (1) an efficient and solid technical climber and (2) sporty and playful on the way down. And I can easily put a green checkmark next to both of those points. The long rear end, combined with a shorter overall wheelbase and a steeper head tube, makes for a quick-responding bike providing plenty of climbing traction.
The short wheelbase and steeper head tube keep the eElja feeling very lively and easy to get off the ground. This isn’t necessarily the e-bike I monster truck over rocky or rooty sections. Rather, the eElja likes to find the roots and rocks to pop off at the beginning of the techy section in order to skip it altogether.
An e-bike that weighs less than 38lb
Adding to the playful experience is the eElja’s (claimed) sub-38-pound weight, roughly the same weight as a non-electric enduro bike I recently built. Its light weight is noticeable on both climbs and descents and, along with some component choices, is largely due to the motor and battery.
Lauf uses the TQ HPR60 motor, which is an offering I quite like. Personally, I’m not big on the power race we seem to have over e-bike drive units right now. At 60Nm of torque and 350W of power, the HPR60 provides plenty of juice to get my 190lb up the hill. Yes, I pedal a bit harder than I do with its Avinox or Bosch counterparts, but I don’t mind.
I also stay away from “Eco” mode on the HPR60, as it feels like Eco likely only offsets the added weight of the motor and battery. Sticking to “Mid” and “High” modes on the eElja, I can still get a respectable 3,000 feet of vert on the 360Wh battery. Adding the 160Wh range extender adds another 1,000 feet, give or take, although I mostly ride without the additional two pounds. As a dad who can’t spend all day out on the trail, 3-4,000 feet of vert is plenty, especially for a bike that weighs under 40lb!
But is the eElja the “lightest” e-bike? Well, likely not. The Shuttle SL is certainly on the lighter side, with Pivot claiming the “World Cup” build weighs just over 36 lbs, although it’s unclear if they still offer that ultralight build. Pivot equipped the bike with the Fazua Ride 60 drive unit, which has had its share of issues. The Orbea Rise SL hovers around that same weight but with the larger Shimano EP801 RS Gen2 motor, with 85Nm of torque.
While it is definitely heavier, the new Specialized S-Works Levo R Ultralight is in the same conversation. The bike is just over 41lbs but has a full-size motor which outputs more than twice the power of the Lauf. But all of these comparisons don’t compete with the eElja on price, costing thousands more.
Some component misses
While I wouldn’t trade the mid-power TQ motor and battery for something beefier, that isn’t true for all the spec choices on the eElja. The most glaring issue with the eElja is the 125mm dropper post on my size medium — at least 50mm shorter than recent bikes I’ve ridden. As soon as I could, I swapped the short post for a longer one.
Fortunately, Lauf added an extra cable port for a dropper post. Routing for a cable-actuated derailleur? I’m afraid you’re out of luck.
I also need a much higher front end than the 619mm stack and 12mm rise handlebars provide. While the lower front end handles more precisely, especially on climbs, I also feel pushed over the front. Swapping to higher bars places me more toward the back, making descents more comfortable and confident.
There are also a few carbon bits — e*thirteen carbon cranks and wheels, along with the e*thirteen Sidekick hub. Do those components significantly enhance my ride on the eElja? While I’m sure they help keep the bike under 40lb, I hardly notice a performance difference, especially on an e-bike.
Where I do notice a lack of performance is the SRAM DB8 brakes. They have good initial bite, but lack power, especially on steep trails with prolonged braking. For the top-tier offering and an e-bike, I would like to see at least the Maven Base brakes. On that same note, a nearly $9,000 bike should have RockShox Ultimate suspension rather than the Select+ that the eElja is specced with.
Who is the eElja for?
While I enjoy the playfulness of the eElja, it is a bike that is easy to find its limits. I found them on my first ride, and continue to find them on every ride after that. As soon as the trail combines high speeds with moderate chunk, the eElja promptly reminds me of its 130mm of rear travel.
Actually, for an e-bike, I venture that the bike rides like it has 10mm less travel due to its weight.
Even on flowier trails where the bike shines, if the jumps are big or I overshoot one (easy to do — the eElja carries speed well), the bottom-out is pretty harsh.
The eElja suits me best when I am turning green and mellow blue trails into something more challenging. It opens up options that I didn’t notice before. Maybe the trails don’t have much elevation or technical features, or I skip them because they don’t necessarily excite me. Not so on the eElja. The motor’s extra assistance provides a different riding experience and turns those two rollers into a double.
Share your Lauf's eElja is the lightest, and most unique e-bike I've ever ridden review
I talk to quite a few people who live in areas with these kinds of trails. Something like the eElja could be a game-changer for mellower trails, giving them a bit more pizzazz. If I am considering purchasing an e-bike, I need something with more travel that can handle rough and rowdy trails a little better.
Pros and cons of the Lauf eElja
Pros
- Light
- Long chainstay
- Gets off the ground easily
- Uniqueness (bottom bracket pivot)
- TQ HPR 60
Cons
- Component hiccups
- Very low front end
- Niche use case
Bottom line
Many e-bikes look and perform quite similarly, so it’s cool to see a brand like Lauf break free from the mold, offering a unique perspective. However, the slim weight (very impressive) comes at a cost. While the eElja offers a more natural, playful ride, the tradeoff is less travel. It is fun on pure flow, but I want a bit more versatility for more challenging terrain.
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