Lough Ealja review: the best lightweight e-mountain bike I’ve ridden so far

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Lough Eliza It’s one of the lightest electric mountain bikes on the market, but after months of testing on Vermont’s steep, root-covered singletrack, I discovered that its greatest strength isn’t its weight — it’s how naturally it rides. Unlike many e-mountain bikes that feel heavy or bulky, the eElza offers enough pedal support to make climbing easy while preserving everything that’s fun about mountain biking.

Powered by a compact TQ HPR60 motor and weighing less than 36.6 pounds, the Lough Ealja climbs easily, descends confidently, and handles technical terrain like a premium analog trail bike. After dozens of rides, I’ve tested why it’s the most fun and most capable electric mountain bike out there.

Lough Eliza first impressions

Lough Eliza The e-mountain bike arrived at my doorstep in the middle of Vermont’s slush season, and at the tail end of freezing cold—which was great timing, because I didn’t feel any guilt about keeping it in “turbo” mode for my entire initial ride. At the end of the 12-mile dirt and double-track adventure, I had climbed nearly 2,100 feet—and was averaging less than 125 watts. Excellent.

That initial exploratory ride, interrupted by muddy roads and a difficult week of illness, represents one end of Lough Ealja’s potential: traveling up and down varied terrain without requiring huge effort on the part of the rider. On this bike, the joy of mountain biking becomes accessible to anyone with some bike skills, regardless of fitness or stamina. but it’s on Other That end of the spectrum – dealing with rocks, roots, berms and high-speed descents – is where the ELJA really excels in the e-mountain bike category.

Can this e-bike help beginners enjoy mountain biking? Absolutely. But if you’re already an experienced rider, eElja will get you going faster, and leave you with enough energy to tackle new features and skills. (It turns out that it’s easier to try something new when you’re not constantly exceeding your anaerobic threshold.)

Lough Ealja review: specifications, price and features

The eElza is Lauf Cycles’ first foray into the e-bike category. An Icelandic brand known for its leaf-spring suspension system that uses pivot bearings instead of linkage, the Lauf Bike leans toward Nordic simplicity and efficiency. The Elza is a refinement of Lauf’s single-pivot Elza mountain bike, but with the latest features TQ HPR60 Drive SystemThe industry’s smallest, lightest and quietest electric-assist motor and battery. A Class 1 e-bike with pedal assist, the Eelza amplifies the power you apply, but in a subtle, almost silent fashion. (Indeed, some other reviewers suggested that the motor is Very small and Very lights. I would disagree.)

The eElja comes in two builds: the Weekend Warrior ($6,490 with a 360Wh battery; $6,990 with a 520 Wh battery), with SRAM Eagle GX wireless shifting and alloy wheels and cranksets, and the Race version I tested ($8,490), with SRAM Eagle XO wireless shifting and carbon rims and cranksets. Both include a RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post and have 130/140mm of travel. Depending on the build, the Elza weighs between 36.6 and 39 pounds. For comparison, it’s only a few pounds heavier than my (non-motorized) enduro bike. In the e-mountain bike category, where models can easily weigh 50 pounds (or more), it’s extremely light.

How does Lough Eliza perform on the road?

Lough Ealja itself is a very capable mountain bike – with or without a motor. It’s light, nimble, fun to drive and capable of tackling just about anything you throw at it. And powered by the TQ HPR60 motor, you can ride all day long – and enjoy it by the end of the day because you’re not so frustrated by climbs.

To get to the trails in my home network, you have to climb 15 minutes straight up a logging road that was built for log-skidding efficiency – not for cyclists – so, no switchbacks to soften the blow. The option to put the Loaf in its highest mode (there are three: Eco, Mid and High) and blast up the hill is honestly the difference between riding or not on a day when you don’t have much in the tank to begin with. Out west, where it seems like every ride starts with burning miles to get to the trailhead, this thing will be a surefire weapon on long days.

Over several months of testing on Vermont trails, I found that the ELJA softened the blow of steep, switchback-y climbs, but it especially shined on trails that were crawling with exposed tree roots. A few roots are no big deal, but some of my favorite trails serve up miles of relentless roots, forcing you to torque through them again and again. This kind of ride can really beat you down (and honestly, that’s why most of my friends have started politely declining my invitations to ride my home network). With the eLza on mid or high mode, you practically float over roots, rocks and other formerly torque-inducing obstructions in your ride. And, since the modes are controlled via a button on the wirelessly controlled SRAM AXS PODS, you can quickly and easily scroll through power modes with the touch of your left thumb. The mode you’re in is reflected by the simple LED display on the top tube, which shows battery percentage via five LED lights, and changes color depending on what mode you’re in.

One surprising thing I noticed during testing: Even on Eco mode, the mild boost provided by the motor makes the difference between low-speed wobble and powering effortlessly across bridges, through deep mud pits, and over rocky shores – that is, all scenarios where even experienced riders sometimes stumble. Everyone falls off a bridge at least once when learning to mountain bike, and after riding the ELJA, I’m convinced that most of those little derps riders experience are caused by low-speed, low-effort attempts. The TQ HPR60 adds just a little mustard to each pedal stroke, and it makes the difference between a dab and a clean run.

Climbing and rolling, on technical flats, Eilja excels. I kind of expected what the climb would be. much worse With a motor?—but I had a lot more doubts about the downhills in this test. As mentioned above, I ride an enduro bike with 160/160mm travel which is strong enough to take to the bike park. While I knew I could adapt to short trips, I was concerned about my center of gravity. The Elza is only a few pounds heavier than my normal bike, but its weight is more concentrated on the motor and battery, which I thought might affect cornering and balance. Instead, I found the opposite to be true. The mid-mounted motor was surprisingly tame around berms and in some of the rougher terrain I like to ride, bringing me back to my earlier claim: this is an extremely capable mountain bike for any level of rider on any terrain.

Lough Ealja Motor, Battery and Main Features

The Lough Ealja is crafted with excellent components across the board, especially in the full-carbon race models I tested. The SRAM XO Eagle transmission and RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post work seamlessly, and the distinctive E*Thirteen Optimus Carbon Sidekick Thanks to the wheels equipped with Goodyear Escape Max Trail Lite tires, it hums along quite well even at low power. However, what really sets this bike apart from its competitors is its motor.

The lightest, smallest e-bike system TQ makes, the TQ HPR60 delivers 60Nm of torque via a small 350-watt motor integrated into the bottom bracket, paired with an internally installed 360Wh battery. Lauf claims a rider between 170 and 180 pounds can climb 4,600 feet on a single charge at max assist and up to 6,600 feet with the optional. range Extender. I never managed to deplete the battery in a day’s riding, and only saw the top-tube LED gauge drop to about 50 percent on rides that were 10 or 11 miles and included a climb of at least 3,000 feet or more — so, within the normal time I can find time for a ride.

You can adjust the maximum power (in watts), assist percentage, and how quickly the system reacts to your pedal inputs for each of the three modes through the TQ app. Supported speeds for each mode range from 3 to 20 mph, where it tops out as per Class 1 e-bike regulations. If you’re looking for faster, more powerful assistance, maximizing power, assist percentage and response time through the app is the answer. As someone who still enjoys riding traditional mountain bikes, I kept these settings toward the lower end, as I noticed that the Elza was gaining attention so quickly in response to my normal application of power over obstacles that it was a bit distracting. I appreciate the encouragement, but I don’t want to be led by electronics.

And this is perhaps the defining feature of Lough Ealja: it amplifies your own efforts without overriding your input as a rider. You’re still riding a bike, and you still have to try. and I like that. I bike for fun and to take advantage of a good sweat sesh. I don’t want to be a puppet on a string – I want to control my efforts both up and down the line. With Lough Ealja, I can do this without compromising the pure enjoyment of high-speed descents, features and berms. Except that now I actually enjoy climbing too.

Advantages and disadvantages of Lough Eliza

Pros

• One of the lightest, quietest e-mountain bikes on the market
• high quality components
• Features Lauf’s signature leaf-spring suspension system
• Motor input can be adjusted through an easy-to-use app
• Balanced, efficient geometry that is unaffected by the weight of the motor and battery

Shortcoming

• It’s an investment, especially for a race model.
• Friends without e-bikes won’t want to ride with you

Is Lough Ealja worth buying?

As a longtime mountain biker who enjoys the thrill and effort of riding singletrack, the Lof Elja may easily be the most fun bike in my quiver. With three booster modes available at the tip of your thumb, you can choose to carefully navigate your way through technical sections with melon-sized rocks or roots scattered along the way – or press a button when you want to explode instead of dance. But the best part is that on those days when you don’t have the time or energy for a big ride, the ELJA is there to help you make the most of whatever it has to offer.

why should you trust me

My first mountain bike was a short-travel, full-carbon hand-me-down World Cup race bike, given to me by a friend who is also a two-time Olympic mountain biker. That bike was incredibly light and fast – and I went over the handlebars almost every time I rode it. Over the past decade I’ve ridden thousands of miles of singletrack on big and strong trail bikes. I haven’t been to a bar in years, but during those years I’ve tested and written about a lot of bike gear. The Lauf Eilja is one of the first truly capable e-mountain bikes I’ve had the pleasure of riding.