With progressive geometry and a top quality frame the Pinnacle Kapur 2 has a really nice feel to it – direct and efficient without any jarring.

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With the Vitus Nucleus 27 VR proving so dominant in the sub £500 category, the test rapidly descends into a race for second place. And for the second year running the Pinnacle Kapur 2 has to play bridesmaid.

The riding position is comfortable too. The rangy top tube and steep seat angle putting you in a good position for climbing and pedalling efficiently, while the short 45mm stem and wide 760mm handlebars offer commanding control to pilot the descents.

At 14.09kg (31.06lb) the Pinnacle is also the lightest bike in this category, but don’t read too much into that because most of the weight saving over the Vitus is actually in the tyres. The 2.25in WTB Ranger tyres on the Pinnacle are light weight and fast rolling, but they lacking the volume and the knob height of the Vigilante/Traill Boss combo on the Vitus, and as such, don’t offer as much traction or comfort.

We said as much about the tyres last year, suggesting that Pinnacle upgrade the front tyre to a WTB Vigilante. And having spent even more time on the Kapur 2 we’d also recommend upgrading the rear tyre to something taller. Not least because the BB height it quite low, so you tend to clip pedals on natural, rooty trails. The other option would be for Pinnacle to fit the shorter 170mm crankams used on the three smaller frame sizes to the L and XL sizes.