The Icelandic brand best known for gravel and carbon leaf-sprung suspension forks has officially entered the mountain bike world. The all-new Lauf Elja is a rugged-yet-light trail machine aimed squarely at speed and fun.
It also has room for up to 3.0″ tires and ships with all-new Goodyear Peak 2.6″ tires. Plus, the looks alone will spark some conversations at the trailhead. There is much to unpack here so let’s start at the top.
Lauf Elja – What is it?
I’ll be honest. When I was invited to Lauf HQ in Iceland, I did not expect the Elja. We were only told, “It’s a mountain bike. ” Based on the popularity of short-travel and gravel-capable soft tails on the market, I fully expected to see a Lauf “sprung” short-travel cross-country bike with gravel capabilities.
When the team unveiled the Elja, I was taken aback. There’s a lot to take in, not only in aesthetics but also in capability and suspension design.
To answer the question above, the Lauf Elja is a 120mm (or 130mm, depending on build) cross-country/down-country mountain bike with lots of capability and pedaling efficiency. It comes in two distinct build options: XC and Trail. Both primarily utilize RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, and all arrive with an AXS Reverb dropper post and wireless shifting (and without any option for mechanical shifting).
Blast From the Past
The Elja frame is an old-school silhouette. Many designs, including vintage bikes like the Cannondale Raven and newer bikes like the Marin and Polygons with the R3ACT suspension, come to mind. That’s the Elja, though. It’s unique, multifaceted, and enjoyable—but more later.
It’s a little cross-country and a little enduro. The single pivot design allows for a quick and progressive cross-country feel. Meanwhile, the super beefy (and we mean beefy) rear triangle delivers efficient power transfer and an excellent pedaling feel. Swap out the 120mm SID Ultimate for a 130mm RockShox Pike, and you get a trail-capable bike with snappy handling. Plus, the larger tire size adds extra comfort and confidence on the trail.
Is that a 2.6mm Tire? Yes – and the Lauf Elja will fit up to a 2.8 tire with 10mm of clearance in all directions (3.0″ tires will fit too, but you didn’t hear that from us). Lauf worked with Goodyear to develop a fast rolling 2.6″ cross-country tire that would accentuate the capability of the Elja. The fact that some cross-country pros ran 2.5″ tires at the Paris games makes me feel that Lauf is headed in the right direction. Plus, the tire is surprisingly lightweight and very fast (once you spin it up to speed).
Side note: The Goodyear Peak 2.6″ tire weight is 824g
Lauf Single Pivot (LSP)
Lauf is starting from scratch for Elja’s suspension design, with no other models from which the company can pull. For this reason, they kept it the least complicated with a single-pivot design. Lauf explained their choice of pivot placement: “Most MTB rear suspension designs locate their effective center of rotation in a similar area.” They didn’t reinvent the wheel or “cross a river for water”, as they put it, but they have some neat ideas for making a single pivot more effective.
The LSP suspension boasts a unique Bracing Box design. The box firmly braces the left and right swing arms together behind the seat tube, resulting in a laterally stiffer structure than if one would brace the sides together in front of the seat tube.
Greasing the System
Some single-pivot designs expose the rear shock to undesirable lateral loads (in extreme riding scenarios). This is where LSP “leaf springs” comes in. The flex-arm design doesn’t provide suspension, but it “greases up the system,” as Lauf states, and prevents the shock from damage. Though it doesn’t really flex, It takes advantage of the distance from the rear shock to the bracing box in the LSP design. This helps provide lateral compliance between the rear wheel and rear shock when needed.
Is that a DUB BB Pivot?
Yes—The main pivot bearing is a BSA/DUB bottom bracket. Lauf chose it for its availability, ease of use, and strength/stiffness. It makes sense, especially if you’re traveling and need to service your bearings. Most, if not all, shops should have this and the tools to install/remove it.
All other hardware on the Elja frameset is titanium (excluding axles), with little Lauf logos laser etched. This is a lovely touch and standard in all Elja models.
What About the Tube Shapes?
The elephant in the room is the tube shaping and chain stay-less frame design. The design team at Lauf looked to maximize the frame’s stiffness, giving it that “get up and go” feeling. They also wanted to maximize tire clearance and suspension fluidity. The end result is the drastic and somewhat organic shaping you see.
The frame’s rear is asymmetrical, with some oversized shapes to improve stiffness while maintaining a reasonably low weight.
Suspension Spec
If you look at the frame closely, you’ll notice there are only a few cable ports, and it’s very dependent on electronic shifting. The same is said with suspension, as the new Elja is primarily available with RockShox Flight Attendant and SRAM AXS shifting/dropper. The entry-level models of the Elja Trail (Weekend Warrior Transmission and Race) arrive with a RockShox SIDLuxe Select+ 2 Position rear shock and RockShox Pike Selection suspension.
No Internal Storage
This unique design also means Lauf can hold a max of two (small) water bottles in the front triangle. Our test bikes were set up with the stubby 450ml (15oz) fidlock bottles. There’s also a mount on the bottom of the downtube. There is no internal storage, which I’m indifferent to, but Lauf was adamantly against it.
“Why cut a hole in a beautifully crafted carbon frame, then add weight and unneeded stress to the downtube? We chose not to craft downtube storage, we choose to save the weight and frame integrity,”
Benedikt Skúlason – Lauf
Lauf Elja Models and Specs
The Lauf Elja is available in two models: Elja XC and Elja Trail. Both models come with RockShox suspension (Pike or SID Ultimate), SRAM AXS shifting, and AXS Reverb dropper posts.
Most bikes receive Zipp 1Zero HiTop wheels, ranging from HiTop base or S. The entry-level Elja Trail Weekend Warrior has DT Swiss M1900 Spline alloy wheels. The Elja XC brakes range from SRAM Level Bronze to Level Ultimate 4-piston.
The Elja ushers in a new Lauf carbon flat bar. The new ‘Mountain Bar’ is full carbon with a 35mm clamp diameter, +/- 12mm rise, 780mm width, and weighs 200g.
Lauf Elja XC models: Elja XC Flight Attendant ($6,990), Elja XC Ultimate Flight Attendant ($8,290* tested) and the XC Ultimate Rift Experience ($12,790).
Lauf Elja Trail models: Elja Weekend Warrior Transition ($4,590), Race ($5,890), Race Flight Attendant ($8,290), and Flight Attendant Ultimate ($12,790).
What’s the Rift?
If you opt for the Rift version in either the XC or Trail Elja, you will get a rolled-out-red-carpet five-day premium MTB stage race in Iceland. This includes you, your favorite riding partner, and a roommate during the event. The Rift showcases Iceland’s finest mountain bike riding and picturesque landscapes.
Lauf Elja Sizing
The new Lauf Elja is available in sizes S (5’1″-5’4″), M (5’7″- 5’10”,) L (5’10”-6’2)”, and XL (6’3″-6’6″).
First Impressions
I have many thoughts about the Lauf Elja, and with a full review coming, I decided to give some initial thoughts on the news piece.
For our demo ride, I opted for the cross-country version in a medium with Goodyear Peak 2.6″ tires. I’m 5″ 11″, and the medium felt right on the money. It was small enough to be playful but not too cramped when powering on the flats.
Cross Country Vibes
We were treated to some of Iceland’s most incredible (and challenging) trails. For the cross-country part of our adventure, we had our choice of everything XC, including fire road climbs leading into a technical single track, drops, and manmade features – basically an XCO course.
Though unfamiliar with the Elja and its handling, I felt at home instantly. The Elja’s handling and driving are much like a cross-country bike but with more capability. I felt myself hammering on the Fire Road dirt climb, looking down and forgetting I was on a trail bike.
Extra Confidence
In the twisty-turny bits of the XC trails, the Elja moved well. It’s not a super short bike wheelbase-wise, but it maneuvers like one. The Flight Attendant helps with the aggressive nature of XC riding, and I’m sure I’d have fewer “get up and sprint” sensations without the pedal and lockout modes running nearly non-stop.
Once you get the tires rolling, this bike is fast. Yes, the higher-volume tires are an asset, but they do take some getting used to, or at least I did. I came from my XC bike with 2.30″ tires, and sprinting up small risers felt slightly slow. But they fly when you get them going, say on a rolling flow section of trail. Plus, the extra confidence boost of the extra volume is a nice perk.
The frame is wide, and I don’t see issues with most of it. But if you have a narrow stance on the bike or your heels point inward, you might run into issues with frame rub. Despite the size of the frame, the bike is lightweight (25.4 lbs without pedals) and handles like a much lighter machine on the climbs.
A Very Capable 120mm
I was very impressed with Elja’s pedal efficiency for the climbing and descending days. Not only because we climbed some very serious slopes (ski slopes with no lift access), but I always had traction, even in the sandy, gravel bits. The suspension was sensitive and not just for the drop-offs or lockouts.
On the bigger technical bits (that I’m admittedly not the best at), the Elja was like a feather in my pocket. I felt more confident than I did on my personal 120mm trail bike and could finesse the bike more around features.
The suspension was straightforward to tune to my riding style (20% sag and consulted with the volume chart), and I could get full travel without overcomplicating the setup. The same can be said about the tire volume. I was riding 17PSI most of the time, which seems nearly perfect on my 160-lb frame with pack included.
Wear a Pack For Long Days
The only piece that really left me wanting on the Elja is the water bottle mounts. I can see this bike being an all-day adventure beast, and the mounts on the frame are just not up to standard. Yes, you can fit some smaller bottles with a side-loading cage, but those don’t always work. Plus there is a down tube mount, but that bottle is usually covered in mud and gross after a long day on the trails. That said, I did wear a pack for most of the days riding, and the bike’s ethos is more down-country than anything else.
Who is it for?
If I were to describe the “Elja rider,” it would be anyone looking for a chameleon of a bike (but not the Santa Cruz Chameleon). It’s a competent bike in all directions: up ski slopes, down chunky trails, and off drops. It’s a bike you could take on a mountain bike trip and easily ride everything from cross-country races to marathons to bike parks. The larger tires give the Elja that little extra bit of suspension and confidence to the rider. Considering the relatively low price, The builds are all well thought out and deliver a heck of a lot for way less than others in the market.
Final Impressions
As of right now, with many miles on the Elja, I’m a big fan. There are some shortcomings, but I like where Lauf is going. This bike will be the do-it-all machine for so many riders and introduce them to a new world of confidence on technical terrain.
The pricing is excellent and will hopefully attract more riders to this new venture by Lauf. The entry point of $4590 for the base model Elja Trail is downright impressive and offers tons of value for a fraction of what others are priced at.
