Icelandic brand Lauf has built its reputation on weird, wonderful front suspension systems — glass fiber springs instead of pistons. Now they’ve taken the plunge into full electric mountain bikes with the eElja, and the result is something that feels less like a typical e-bike and more like someone snuck a motor into your favorite trail rig.
Light Enough to Forget It’s Electric
At 37.7 pounds, the eElja is only a few pounds heavier than a traditional mountain bike. That’s absurdly light for an electric MTB, where most competitors tip the scales well north of 45 pounds. The 350-watt motor hides in the bottom bracket, and the cables are minimal enough that the whole thing looks clean — Lauf calls it “muted Nordic design,” and they’re not wrong. It’s the kind of bike that doesn’t scream “I paid someone to pedal for me.”
WIRED gave it a perfect 10/10, which is rare enough to note. Their reviewer called it “unbelievably, ridiculously, absurdly lightweight” and said it was the closest thing to a traditional mountain bike he’d ever ridden with a motor. That’s high praise from a publication that reviews a lot of e-bikes.
Two Builds, Two Price Points
You’ve got two options: the Race build at $8,490 with carbon wheels, upgraded suspension, and a higher-end groupset, or the Weekend Warrior at $6,490. Both use Lauf’s signature leaf-spring front suspension, which has been the brand’s calling card for years. The price is steep no matter which way you slice it, but you’re getting what you pay for — this isn’t a department store e-bike with a battery bolted on.
The one complaint? The electronic shifter setup was apparently a bit confusing, and the reviewer wanted more power for longer, sustained climbs. That 350-watt motor is on the lower end for e-MTBs, which tells you Lauf prioritized ride feel over raw grunt. If you’re the kind of rider who wants the motor to do the work, this isn’t your bike. If you want assistance that doesn’t ruin the experience, it might be exactly right.
What This Means for the E-Bike Market
The e-bike industry has a weight problem. Most electric mountain bikes are heavy, clumsy things that handle like boats once the motor cuts out. Lauf is pushing in the opposite direction — build something that rides like a real bike first, then add electric assistance as a subtle enhancement. It’s a philosophy that could resonate with serious mountain bikers who’ve been skeptical of electrification.
The challenge is price. $6,490 to $8,490 puts the eElja firmly in premium territory, competing with brands like Specialized and Trek that have much larger dealer networks and brand recognition. Lauf is a small Icelandic company going up against giants. But if the ride quality matches the specs, word-of-mouth in the tight-knit mountain biking community could do a lot of the marketing for them.
What to Watch
Keep an eye on how the eElja holds up over a full season of trail riding. Early reviews are glowing, but Lauf’s leaf-spring suspension and the bottom bracket motor both need to prove their durability in the real world. If they hold up, this could be the bike that makes “lightweight e-MTB” a real category instead of an oxymoron.
