Lauf eElja Electric Mountain Bike Review: Power Trip
Lauf’s eElja is a sub-40-pound electric mountain bike that pairs a hidden motor with a very clean design and strong trail performance.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
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WIRED reviews Lauf’s eElja as a strikingly light e-MTB that feels close to a traditional mountain bike, with smooth assist, wireless shifting, and minimal clutter. The main caveats are a slightly confusing setup and motor power that may be short for long, sustained climbs.
The eElja is like a mountain bike with a secret little helper inside. It still feels light and easy to steer, but a hidden motor gives extra push when the trail gets hard. The tradeoff is that it costs a lot and may feel a little underpowered on very long hills.
Analysis
A light e-MTB that still feels like a real mountain bike
WIRED’s review centers on weight and ride feel. The Lauf eElja Race comes in at 37.7 pounds, which is unusually light for an electric mountain bike and only a few pounds heavier than the reviewer’s regular bike. That lower weight matters not just on the trail, but also when lifting the bike onto a rack, hanging it on a wall, or moving it around a workspace.
Clean design, hidden power
The eElja uses a TQ HPR60 motor that provides up to 350 watts of assistance. The review says the motor feels smooth and natural, with power arriving without sudden jolts. Lauf also keeps the bike visually simple: there is no full display, just small lights on the top tube that indicate assist level and battery status. Wireless SRAM AXS shifting and a wireless Reverb dropper post help keep cables to a minimum.
Hardware and range
The reviewed Race build includes a RockShox Pike Select+ fork, a RockShox Deluxe Select rear shock, carbon wheels, and Goodyear 2.6-inch tires. Lauf uses a 360Wh battery and offers a 160Wh range extender. The company claims that a 180-pound rider can climb 4,600 feet at full assist on the internal battery, or 6,600 feet with the extender.
Where it falls short
The review’s main complaints are limited. The setup takes some getting used to, especially for someone unfamiliar with wireless shifting and the bike’s battery layout. The reviewer also thinks the motor could use a bit more punch for long, sustained climbs, even though it handles shorter punchy climbs well. Overall, the review presents the eElja as an expensive but highly polished e-MTB that gets very close to the feel of a traditional bike.
Key points
- The Lauf eElja Race weighs 37.7 pounds, unusually light for an e-MTB.
- Its TQ HPR60 motor delivers up to 350 watts of assistance with smooth, natural-feeling power.
- Lauf keeps the bike visually clean with minimal cables and no full display.
- The bike uses a 360Wh battery, with a 160Wh range extender available for longer rides.
- The reviewer’s main criticisms are a small setup learning curve and limited oomph on sustained climbs.
If Lauf’s approach catches on, more electric mountain bikes could become lighter, simpler, and easier to handle both on and off the trail. Riders who want help on climbs without giving up a normal bike feel may find this design especially appealing.
The high price narrows the audience to buyers willing to pay for premium components and design. Riders tackling long, sustained climbs may still want more motor power than the eElja provides, and the wireless setup may feel unfamiliar at first.
