Has anyone ordered a Lauf eElja yet?

I'm after a shorter travel lighter eMTB for flatter tight forest trails, the type where a 760mm bar or larger are a hinderance. Literally, you can't get 780mm bars through some of our trails as they are that tight.

I currently have a 2022 Orbea Rise Hydro and find 60nm perfectly adequate, and in fact I usually ride it with only 100% assist, 42nm and 250w as a trail setting. It weighs 46lbs though, and my goal is to transition to a short travel (underbiked) lightweight (<40lb) TQ HPR60 equipped XC bike and a longer travel 160/170mm all mountain bike (also HPR60 based) for trips away from my local flat terrain.

In the USA, short travel light eMTB are a rare, near extinct, species of bike. Lauf's new eElja looks interesting.





This actually fits the bill for all my requirements, except it is not the prettiest rear end and I'd prefer the shock not to be where it is. Lastly, it irritates me that it cost $200 more than black for the grey and $400 more for the blue and yellow options. Still, I am intrigued.

There are no video reviews yet. Has anyone got one of these yet? What do you think? Pro and cons? Any other (USA available options) that I may be missing?

Roaming50 said:

I'm after a shorter travel lighter eMTB for flatter tight forest trails, the type where a 760mm bar or larger are a hinderance. Literally, you can't get 780mm bars through some of our trails as they are that tight.

I currently have a 2022 Orbea Rise Hydro and find 60nm perfectly adequate, and in fact I usually ride it with only 100% assist, 42nm and 250w as a trail setting. It weighs 46lbs though, and my goal is to transition to a short travel (underbiked) lightweight (<40lb) TQ HPR60 equipped XC bike and a longer travel 160/170mm all mountain bike (also HPR60 based) for trips away from my local flat terrain.

In the USA, short travel light eMTB are a rare, near extinct, species of bike. Lauf's new eElja looks interesting.

Lauf eElja - Lauf Cycles - gravel bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes

We push boundaries to make you the best bikes on the planet! At a price nobody competes with. While giving you a 30 day test ride to make sure it's perfect for you.

www.laufcycles.com

View attachment 181156


This actually fits the bill for all my requirements, except it is not the prettiest rear end and I'd prefer the shock not to be where it is. Lastly, it irritates me that it cost $200 more than black for the grey and $400 more for the blue and yellow options. Still, I am intrigued.

There are no video reviews yet. Has anyone got one of these yet? What do you think? Pro and cons? Any other (USA available options) that I may be missing?

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I'll just simply note that for ebikes in particular, you can just short stroke normal bikes instead.

Teewing's racing team uses the same Force 160/150 bike but short stroked with a 130mm fox 34 and a rear shock limited to 50mm travel instead of 55mm. I did that for my own bike and if you chose some lighter components, you'd get that bike to ~42 lbs. I'm under 45lbs with a flipping jones bar afterall.

curufinwe_wins said:

I'll just simply note that for ebikes in particular, you can just short stroke normal bikes instead.

Teewing's racing team uses the same Force 160/150 bike but short stroked with a 130mm fox 34 and a rear shock limited to 50mm travel instead of 55mm. I did that for my own bike and if you chose some lighter components, you'd get that bike to ~42 lbs. I'm under 45lbs with a flipping jones bar afterall.

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I understand I can do that but I do not want to be changing a lot of components. I seeking a bike that is configured accordingly for the mission, not hacked together after the fact (which can get very expensive).

Roaming50 said:

I understand I can do that but I do not want to be changing a lot of components. I seeking a bike that is configured accordingly for the mission, not hacked together after the fact (which can get very expensive).

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That bike will be very expensive in the long run. Its polarising looks will ensure it has a very low resale value. (It’s hideous to behold)

Roaming50 said:

I understand I can do that but I do not want to be changing a lot of components. I seeking a bike that is configured accordingly for the mission, not hacked together after the fact (which can get very expensive).

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That's fair, though you can buy framesets of both the avinox and teewing in the US at least and then just choose lightweight components in the first place.

Anyways. I do sympathize about the dearth of shorter travel bikes. I think worrying about the weight of 40 vs 45 etc is not really productive, but I definitely agree with not needing so much travel.

Its not a light bike but the trek powerfly FS gen 4 is also a shorter travel ebike. The Fuel+ EX gets you a lot closer to what you are looking for with a more normal (and thus resellable bike) at around 43lbs, but also costs a shitload.

Honestly (I'm not a trek fanboy, it just happens to be true), if you want what you say you want, you should buy a used Trek E-Caliber and be done with it. You'll get that underbiking, low power, low weight experience out of the box, and a dealer network.

The Scott Lumen would also be a good look.

Damn thats Ugly .

Roaming50 said:

my goal is to transition to a short travel (underbiked) lightweight (<40lb) TQ HPR60 equipped XC bike and a longer travel 160/170mm all mountain bike (also HPR60 based) for trips away from my local flat terrain.

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Sounds like both of those requirement could be covered by the new Trek Fuel+. With the adaptable linkages, rocker and headset (plus different fork and shock) it can be set up as a 140mm bike or a 160mm bike. Might be a bit of a faff changing things around but cheaper than two separate ebikes.

There are lots of other HPR60 bikes though, like the Propain Sresh SL, Norco Sight VLT, Yeti MTe etc.

The Lauf definitely fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

MeatBike said:

Sounds like both of those requirement could be covered by the new Trek Fuel+.

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Thats where my money would be for everything including better looks

curufinwe_wins said:

The Scott Lumen would also be a good look.

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I would definitely go for the Scott Lumen eRide 900 SL but you can't get the HPR60 version of that in the US. Only the older HPR50 is still available.

MeatBike said:

Sounds like both of those requirement could be covered by the new Trek Fuel+. With the adaptable linkages, rocker and headset (plus different fork and shock) it can be set up as a 140mm bike or a 160mm bike. Might be a bit of a faff changing things around but cheaper than two separate ebikes.

There are lots of other HPR60 bikes though, like the Propain Sresh SL, Norco Sight VLT, Yeti MTe etc.

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The Trek Fuel+ has certainly been under consideration but it is very similar to what I have now, albeit on the TQ platform and not not Shimano. I do like the Shresh and you can even configure it with the new 2027 suspension but again, It's more bike that I need for my day to day. The Norco Sight VLT TQ was top of my consideration for my fourth bike but you can't get it in my area and the C1 isn SZ3 is sold out. The Yeti, well... I don't want to be associated as a poser... LOL.

Honestly, I wish Trek would come out with a TQ based powerfly. I'd buy that.

I currently have around 7 bikes at home. I'd like to get down to just four.. My consideration is that I also store my bikes in my basement that has stairs to it from my garage. Getting a 52+ lb full fat - fat bike up those stairs is a pain and as I get older I notice the weight more, hence why I would like a lighter, nimble bike for my day to day.

1997 Boulder Starship -legendary bike that is broken down and stored in a box- keeping to become wall art
2012 Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc - not used - need to sell/donate
2015 Motobecane fat bike - not used - need to sell
2020 YT Izzo Launch Edition - not used - need to sell - currently my back up regular bike (26lbs)
2021 Specialized Creo Evo Expert - my e road/gravel bike (29lbs)
2022 Orbea Ride H15 (heavily upgraded) - to be sold (46lbs)
2024 Ari Explorer Peak Comp - e-fat bike for winter only (~52lbs)
To get:
? - short travel, nimble, natural feeling TQ60 based, <40lb home bike
? - long travel, all mountain, still want natural feeling, hopefully with a rumored TQ80 or 90nm motor.

One thing I won't compromise on is feel and noise of the motor. Don't want a drone or rattle coming from it and I don't think the new Avinoix is what I want. Too powerful, too e-moto for me. I want my bikes to still feel like bikes so I am happy to stick with the mid-assist motors.

Well I caved and look what turned up today.



So far, it just teases it color and that is a serious fat XC tire (I opted for the light weight Goodyear Peak).



The irony is that locally we have been having storm after storm and all our local trails are flooded and closed and will be for weeks so I've nowhere to ride this at the moment....

Roaming50 said:

Well I caved and look what turned up today.

View attachment 182219

So far, it just teases it color and that is a serious fat XC tire (I opted for the light weight Goodyear Peak).

View attachment 182220

The irony is that locally we have been having storm after storm and all our local trails are flooded and closed and will be for weeks so I've nowhere to ride this at the moment....

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Might as well start on the road though.

Send it back if it’s not too late

Lightme said:

Send it back if it’s not too late

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No!

It looks better in person than the photos give it justice.

For those that want a subtle, understated natural feeling eMTB this may be it.




The yellow is pretty and has sparkle to it.

I went for a BMC Fourstroke AMP LT, which I've had a year now. It is a seriously fun bike to ride and can tackle some surprisingly tech terrain. I don't know if you can get BMC in the States, though. I hope you enjoy your new bike

That BMC looks nice. This is one area that Europe has a strong advance over the US. You can’t get BMC here and most eMTB is geared towards heavy big travel rigs. There are next to none in the XC/light trail category. Europe has a lot more weight weenie eMTB.

I might have a bike problem with this latest purchase. I really need to prune the heard. lol.

I did a review.

Lauf eElja - A stealthy eMTB for those that do not like traditional e-bikes?

Very good and honest review. Just goes to show that not everybody rides in terrain which needs a full fat bike and where a lighter, more nimble and natural feeling SL bike can shine. Given how quiet the TQ system is I couldn't live with the clunk from that e13 rear hub!