Lauf has never really done“normal,” and that’s a big part of the brand’s appeal. The Icelandic company has built its reputation on doing things a little differently. Take a look at its leaf-spring gravel forks, all-road geo, and RIFT races held in its Icelandic homeland. Hell, take a look at the Elja acoustic (cringe at using that word). It’s a polarizing silhouette, but one that I, and many others, love. Now Lauf is bringing that same mindset to the eMTB space with the new Lauf eElja. A lightweight mid-travel trail bike that looks like a beefed-up version of the brand’s entry into the mountain bike space.
And that’s really the hook here.
What is it? Lauf eElja
The new eElja doesn’t appear to be trying to win the e-bike arms race with huge batteries, monster torque numbers, or burly downhill-bike proportions. Instead, Lauf has taken the DNA of its acoustic Elja and added just enough motor, battery, and travel to create something that feels like a natural extension of the line.
Same clean aesthetic and carbon frame (but not the exact frame as the Elja). Just with a TQ HPR60 drive unit tucked inside the frame and enough extra shove to make big rides, big climbs, and repeated trail laps a lot more achievable.
At first glance, that might be the smartest thing about the eElja.
Not A Full-Power Bruiser – Think Light Trail eMTB
Lauf says the new eElja weighs as little as 16.6kg / 36.6lb, which immediately puts it in rare company for a mid-travel eMTB. Our medium review ride from the Iceland launch weighed in at 38lbs on the dot.
That low claimed weight comes in the top-spec Race build with “lighter” tires, while the more trail-ready tire configurations still stay pretty low for the category. The Weekend Warrior build weighs 17.7kg / 39.0lb with the Goodyear Escape 2.6 tires and drops to 17.2kg / 37.9lb with the Goodyear Peak 2.6 option. The Race build is claimed at 17.1kg / 37.7lb on Goodyear Escape tires and 16.6kg / 36.6lb on the faster-rolling Goodyear Peaks.
That’s a big deal, because it changes what kind of bike the eElja wants to be.
Rather than build a heavy, over-gunned machine that needs a motor to mask its mass, Lauf appears to have chased something much more appealing. They crafted an eMTB that still behaves like a spirited trail bike when the trail gets weird, tight, fast, or technical. Less plow bike, more precision tool.
That means less shuttle replacement and more of an all-day ripper. That lines up with the spec too, with 140mm up front and 130mm out back, a setup that lands squarely in the sweet spot for modern (and fun) trail riding.
Talk Power To Me
Power comes from the new TQ HPR60 system, a 60 Nm / 350W motor paired with a 360 Wh battery. Though it doesn’t come with one, it has an optional 160 Wh range extender for bigger days or travel. Lauf calls it the smallest, lightest, and quietest motor in its class, and we have to agree (though I’m not an eBike connoisseur yet). However, less weight doesn’t mean less protection. The TQ HPR60 is also fully sealed to IP67, which should matter to anyone who rides in the real world and likes to explore. In the U.S., it’s a Class 1 e-bike with assist up to 20mph.
What’s That Mean In Ride Terms? Lauf claims the eElja can manage about 1,400 m / 4,600 ft of climbing on a single charge with an 80kg rider using full assist. If you’re going for the “big day,” that’s about 2,000 m / 6,600 ft with the range extender.
That Looks Familiar
One of the more interesting details of the eElja uses the exact same cockpit as the analog Elja. Making it an easy transition for those looking for a counterpart to their Elja, or for those going from XC to eMTB. The cockpit stays the same. It says a lot about what Lauf was trying to preserve here – it’s supposed to not be too much like an eBike.
Everything is controlled through a pair of SRAM AXS Pods, which handle the drivetrain, dropper, and motor modes with just those four buttons. No cluttered handlebars or extra spaghetti.
That means the eElja is not just visually similar to the acoustic Elja, but also functionally similar. That matters because the best “light assist” eMTBs tend to work when they still feel like mountain bikes first, e-bikes second. The eElja seems built around that exact idea. Quiet motor. Clean controls. Low system weight. Conventional trail-bike proportions. It sounds like a bike made for riders who already love the Elja (and light trail bikes), but want a powered version that doesn’t blow up the original bike’s character.
Suspension Design
The motor may get the headline, but the core of the bike is still Lauf’s LSP suspension layout. On the eElja, that means a simple design that uses a DUB bottom bracket (and as the Elja) for the pivot bearings. This basic setup avoids the extra links, bearings, and bushings found on more complex multi-link systems. Lauf says the pivot placement delivers suspension performance similar to a 4-bar design, but with less weight and fewer durability concerns.
That design also creates one of eElja’s most practical features: tire clearance.
The frame has room for up to 29 x 3.0in tires, which is a solid amount of real estate on a modern mid-travel bike. Stock builds come with 29 x 2.6in Goodyear Escape Max Trail Lite tires and are very solid performers (more on that in our review). Buyers can swap to the lighter, faster-rolling Goodyear Peak Ultimate 2.6 (spec’d on the Elja XC Race) at checkout at no extra cost.
That much clearance makes the eElja feel more versatile than many bikes in this category. You could easily build it as a grippy, high-volume trail bruiser for rough terrain. But if you’re like me, you’ll bias it toward faster, more downcountry-friendly riding – you want that 2.6″ Peak option. That mirrors the broad-use vibe of the acoustic Elja, and again reinforces the idea that these two bikes are meant to live side by side, not cannibalize one another.
The suspension curve aims for usable, balanced trail performance rather than something overly progressive or oddly tuned. The anti-rise chart trends from the low-80% range down toward the mid-60% range through travel, while the anti-squat chart hovers around 100% depending on setup. This suspension is designed to pedal cleanly without sacrificing composure.
Lauf eElja Fit and Geometry
Two Builds – No Frills
Lauf is launching the eElja in two complete builds: Weekend Warrior and Race.
Both share the same IRM carbon frame, TQ motor system, 360Wh battery, RockShox Reverb AXS dropper, SRAM DB8 four-piston brakes, 180mm rotors, and wireless SRAM controls. Both also use 160mm cranks and the same broad tire clearance.
The Weekend Warrior comes with a RockShox Pike 140mm fork, Deluxe Select shock, SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain, alloy DT Swiss M1900 wheels, and alloy e*thirteen cranks.
Price: $6,990.
The Race build bumps up to Pike Select+ and Deluxe Select+ suspension, SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission, carbon ethirteen cranks, and ethirteen Optimus carbon wheels with the brand’s Sidekick rear hub.
Price: $8,490.
Honestly, both builds seem well judged. The Weekend Warrior looks like the volume play: real performance, no weird corners cut, and a price that undercuts plenty of similarly specced competitors. The Race build is the flashy one, and with a claimed 16.6kg starting weight, it’s also the attention-grabber. If you’re hard on your kit and smoking drive trains like Willy Nelson, you might as well hit the Weekend Warrior.
Plus – All bikes are assembled at its Harrisonburg, Virginia factory.
Bringing It Back Around
The most impressive thing about the new Lauf eElja isn’t just that it’s light. It seems to understand exactly what kind of eMTB many riders actually want right now.
The eElja looks like an e-trail bike for riders who still care deeply about the feel of a mountain bike. The low weight, quiet TQ system, clean all-wireless setup, sensible travel, huge tire clearance, and simplified rear end. This is an eMTB that wants to ride naturally, stay easy to live with, and avoid burying the fun under unnecessary complexity.
And when you put it next to the acoustic Elja, the case gets even stronger.
The Elja and eElja look like the kind of stablemates that could make perfect sense for the same rider: one for pure analog trail riding, the other for longer loops, bigger elevation days, recovery rides, or simply getting more out of limited time.
Check out the full line at Lauf.com
Look for our review coming up shortly!
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