Home / Sports / Lauf eElja: The Nearly Perfect E-MTB?
Lauf eElja: The Nearly Perfect E-MTB?
7 Jun
Summary
- The eElja boasts a sub-40-pound weight, making it exceptionally maneuverable.
- Its discreet motor offers seamless power assistance without extraneous tech.
- Despite minor quirks, the eElja is hailed as one of the coolest bikes ever ridden.
The Lauf eElja electric mountain bike, particularly the Race model, has been put through its paces, revealing a machine that excels in speed and nimbleness. Weighing in at just 37.7 pounds, its sub-40-pound heft is a defining feature, distinguishing it from many heavier e-MTBs and enhancing maneuverability.
The bike integrates a powerful yet discreet 350-watt TQHPR60 motor, cleverly housed in the bottom bracket. Power delivery is smooth and intuitive, allowing riders to forget they are using assistance. Lauf has stripped away extraneous technology, opting for a minimalist approach with only five tiny lights on the top tube to indicate assist mode and battery level.
The eElja Race comes equipped with a RockShox Pike Select+ fork and a RockShox Deluxe Select shock, along with E*thirteen carbon wheels and Goodyear tires. A notable aspect is its clean aesthetic, achieved through wireless SRAM AXS e-shifting and a wireless dropper post, minimizing visible cables.
While nearly perfect, the eElja presents minor challenges. Some users might encounter a learning curve with the wireless e-shifting system. Additionally, the motor's assistance, while ample for punchy climbs, might lack the necessary oomph for very long, sustained ascents.
Despite these small considerations, the Lauf eElja is overwhelmingly praised. Its innovative design and exceptional performance position it as a benchmark in the electric mountain bike category, with the author considering it one of the five coolest bikes ever ridden.
