Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD Review
- Price: $2,999
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 29 inches
- Gear: 1×12
What we like about it: Butt-joint and hydroformed aluminum technology increase the durability of the bike while keeping the frame lightweight for tough rides.
What we don’t like about it: There is no protective patch at the downtube, and the paint may be damaged by flying stones during the ride.
Rating: (4.8/5)
The Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD is the do-it-all hardtail trail bike, a trail bike with a slack head tube angle, simple and efficient construction, and the right price for many riders who want to ride off-road.
Below, we will analyze the riding experience, key features, components, and specifications as well as other versions of this bike.
Additionally, at the end of the review, we will also compare several best bike models. If you want to know more about bike reviews, don’t hesitate to follow us.
Riding Experience
The Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD has a nice geometry with carefully selected components. With a large 29-inch wheelset and 140mm shock absorbing fork, it aroused my strong expectations for its off-road performance.
For this reason, I took OPEN WI.DE. EKAR and booked a ride via Skyscanner to Snowmass Bike Park, which has smooth and long trails and rugged and exciting hills.
Also, there are a lot of different difficulty routes to choose from.
Climbing
The Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD is a hardtail aluminum frame mountain bike.
During the climbs, I felt it had a more responsive power transfer and a more direct feeling of power when I pedaled. It’s also more energy-efficient than a full-suspension bike when climbing up.
Then, on the steeper climbs, through the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD with the Race Face Aeffect 32t crankset and the Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed Cassette drivetrain kit, I adjusted the rear derailleur to the larger cogs.
This made me have a lighter pedaling feel and was able to climb this steep grade with minimal effort.
On top of that, the upright geometry of the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD kept my center of gravity balanced, providing strong support for my upward ride.
In the end, I highly recognized the climbing performance of Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD, and it helped me save as much effort as possible on the top of the climb and pass quickly.
Decline
The Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD had the same notable descending ability.
First of all, on some drop sections, the Fox 34 Float Performance 140mm damping fork provided neat support, enough to absorb most of the impact when landing without bottoming out.
Then, the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD continued to perform well on the gravel sections, with the Maxxis Dissector 2.60-inch rugged outer tire coupled with the large 29-inch wheel diameter.
This ensured my stability and smoothness when descending to ignore some small potholes and bumps.
Apart from that, the excellent tension provided by the Shimano XT M8100 rear derailleur it carried remained reliable in such bumpy sections without worrying about the chain coming off.
To my delight, the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD remained stable on the trails, with a shorter rear triangle and longer cockpit, providing nimble handling while maintaining balance on the trails.
The Shimano M6120 four-piston brakes on board also exerted great braking power and a linear brake feel.
From my perspective, the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD is a well-balanced hardtail trail bike with all-round performance. I think it’s a good choice for riders who love hardtail mountain bikes.
Specification
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD has a total of (S-XL) 4 sizes of internal-cabling aluminum frame to choose from.
In the first place, the looser geometry and 29-inch wheel diameter with 2.6-inch outer tire give it a stable and high-speed descending performance.
Next, unique aluminum alloy tubes are shaped and walled to increase strength and resistance to unwanted bending.
The aluminum tubes are butt-jointed to reduce the weight in the middle of the tubes and to keep away from the stresses in the joints and welded areas.
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD has multiple mounting holes on the frame, supporting full-size water bottle mounting at the downtube and carrying portable tools at the seat tube, thus coping with long distance riding.
Finally, the LAUFEY H-LTD comes with a dropper design that allows you to switch your riding weight between climbing and descending at any time, ensuring that the rider is always in the right position.
Video
Other versions
The Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD is an all-round excellent hardtail trail bike, with splendid geometry frame, good climbing and riding ability.
But as a hardtail cross-country mountain bike, it’s selling price may not be as suitable for some newbies with low budget.
For this reason we offer a hardtail trail bike with the same geometry aluminum frame under the same brand, which is priced more suitably for riders with less of a budget due to the use of slightly lower grade components.
Orbea LAUFEY H30
Both Orbea LAUFEY H30 and Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD use the same internal-cabling aluminum frame and 29×2.6 inch large diameter outer tire.
The former boasts the RockShox Recon RL fork, which provides 140mm of damping travel and has excellent initial sensitivity. It can also filter vibrations well on bumpy sections, but will be as good when landing on big drop-offs.
The Shimano Deore M5100 1×11 drivetrain kit has a wide range of speeds to choose from and is sufficient for common hills. In the meantime, the Shimano MT201 brakes are capable of braking on descending routes.
So, for riders who are not so budget-conscious, a hardtail trail bike like the Orbea LAUFEY H30 with an excellent frame and carefully selected components may be more suitable.
Below, we will list the specific parameters of the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD in detail and some other brands of hardtail trail bikes with similar prices for your reference.
What do we like about it?
- Excellent loose geometry for more stability on descending rides.
- The bike adopts the design of internal cable routing, making the appearance look more neat and cleaning more convenient.
- The technology of butted and hydroformed aluminum increases the durability of the bike while keeping the frame light enough to handle tough rides.
- The chain protection patch on the rear lower fork reduces the noise generated by the chain slapping during the ride.
- The dropper seatpost can put the rider in the right position between climbing and descending transitions.
- The 29×2.6 inch large grain outer tire option provides a fast and consistent descent.
What don’t we like about it?
- There is no protective patch at the downtube, and the paint may be damaged by flying stones during the ride.
FAQ
- What kind of saddles does it use?
It uses: Fizik Taiga S-alloy rail saddle.
- What kind of rider is it suitable for?
The bike has a well-shaped frame with competitive components that make it a suitable choice for any rider.
- How to choose the right size?
Here we provide you with a size chart, but of course you do not have to follow this standard. The best way to find the most suitable size is to test ride.
| Rider height | SIZE |
| 4’11” – 5’5″ | S |
| 5’2″ – 5’9″ | M |
| 5’6″ – 6’1″ | L |
| 5’10” – 6’6″ | XL |
Specs
Build
| Frame | Orbea Laufey Hydro Triple Butted 29″ Boost 12×148 ISCG 05 Colors: Dark Green Met (Gloss); Aluminium Raw (Gloss); Golden Sand (Matt) |
| Fork | Fox 34 Float Performance 140 3-Position QR15x110 |
| Headset | Acros Alloy 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ Integrated |
| Stem | Alloy 3D forged, 35mm interface, -7º |
| Handlebar | OC Mountain Control MC20 Alu SL, Rise20, Width 800 |
| Saddle | Fizik Taiga S-alloy rail |
| Seatpost | OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper |
Groupset
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus |
| Crank | Race Face Aeffect 32t |
| Shifters | Shimano SLX M7100 I-Spec EV |
| Cassette | Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed |
| Chain | Shimano M7100 |
| Brakes | Shimano M6120 Hydraulic Disc |
Wheels
| Rims | Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready |
| Tires | Maxxis Dissector 2.60″ 60 TPI Exo TLR |
Comparison Table
| Bicycles | Click View | Travel | Frame | Brake | Drivetrain |
| Canyon Stoic 2 | Click View | 140mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 10 |
| Kona Big Honzo | Click View | 130mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 11 |
| Cannondale Habit 5 | Click View | 130mm rear, 140mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 11 |
| Trek Roscoe 7 | Click View | 140mm front | Aluminum | Hydraulic Disc | 1 × 12 |
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD VS Canyon Stoic 2
Although both bikes have 140mm fork damping travel, the former’s Fox 34 Float Performance has better support and lubrication than the latter’s Suntour XCR 34.
Speaking of the drivetrain components, LAUFEY H-LTD uses Shimano SLX M7100 mixed with XT M8100 components, these altogether provides a higher speed level and a smoother hand feel than Stoic 2’s Shimano Deore M6000.
The former Shimano M6120 also has better braking ability and faster braking response than the latter’s Shimano MT200 on the braking system.
Finally, the former represents a more powerful ride, so the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD is more recommendable.
Learn More: Is Canyon Stoic 2 Worth Buying? [Canyon Stoic 2 Review]
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD vs Kona Big Honzo
Between Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD and Kona Big Honzo, the former will be a little more capable in all aspects such as components.
The Fox 34 Float Performance is 10mm longer than the Suntour XCR 34 as to shock travel, and the Fox shock has better support and durability.
When it comes to the drivetrain components, the LAUFEY H-LTD’s Shimano SLX M7100 hybrid XT M8100 1×12 has a smoother shifting feel and more powerful rear derailleur tension than the Big Honzo’s Shimano MT5100 1×11.
Also, as for braking components, the former Shimano M6120 has a more responsive braking effect and stronger braking power than the latter Shimano MT201.
I would recommend the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD which, after all, has more advanced components and better performance.
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD vs Cannondale Habit 5
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD and Cannondale Habit 5 are two mountain bikes with different frame constructions. The former is a hardtail mountain bike whereas the latter is a full-suspension mountain bike.
Referring to damping, the latter’s front RockShox 35 Silver R damping fork and RockShox Deluxe Select rear shock provide 140mm of damping travel in the front and 130mm in the rear.
This setting allows it to be more stable on the rear end than the former when crossing large drop-off landings and having better descending ability.
But the former pedals more efficiently when climbing and enjoys a better sense of power.
There also exists discrepancy in components. The LAUFEY H-LTD Shimano SLX M7100 hybrid XT M8100 1×12 has better drivetrain efficiency and a smoother shifting feel than the Habit 5 Shimano Deore M5100.
As a result, there are different applicable routes to each bike. Suppose you prefer descending riding then the Cannondale Habit 5 with full-suspension is more suitable for you; if you like more direct power and powerful climbing ability, I would recommend you Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD.
Learn More: Is Cannondale Habit 5 A Good Bike?[Cannondale Habit 5 Review]
Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD vs Trek Roscoe 7
The Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD and Trek Roscoe 7 are both aluminum framed hardtail trail bikes with an internal cable routing design.
Although with the same 140mm of shock travel, the former’s Fox 34 Float Performance has better support than the latter’s RockShox Recon Silver RL, and can handle rougher roads.
As for the drivetrain components, still the former Shimano SLX M7100 mixed with XT M8100 has better drivetrain efficiency and smoother feel than the latter Shimano Deore M6100.
The biggest difference between the two is the braking feel. The LAUFEY H-LTD Shimano M6120 has more powerful braking ability and faster braking response than the Roscoe 7 Shimano MT200.
Overall, the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD is indeed more powerful than the Trek Roscoe 7 in every way, and unless you like the latter brand, the former is more worth buying.
Learn More: Is Trek Roscoe 7 Worth Buying? [Trek Roscoe 7 Review]
Summary
Above is my ride review of the Orbea LAUFEY H-LTD. In our opinion, this is a hardtail trail bike with excellent capabilities and is suitable for every rider. That’s why we gave it a 4.8 rating.
Of course, if you’re interested in exploring other similar bikes, we have reviewed a variety of bikes at different price points that you might find interesting. Feel free to check out our other reviews as well.
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