I think the challenge lies for people to devise confrontations for this style bike – one where the rider has to steer, search for traction and sweep through rock and root sections. A bike fit for healthy abuse.

It’s worth noting that in a number of short test rides, this was the smoothest shifting I’ve felt from a Pinion gearbox yet.

Look, I know I sound excited and I know you've seen me like this before. But I was gobsmacked. The Taniwha felt so light and nimble. Strong and silent. I put in a couple more laps on the other trails trying to find a weak point. There isn't one. Under power the bike just glides.

In other words it’s got the giddy agility to chop and hip down the trail like a 4X bike, but it’ll silently flatten suicidal boulder fields, suck up serious drops and hook the most ragged, blown-out berms like a full-on DH bike.

The Zerode Taniwha offers everything I look for in a bike – perfect looks, brilliant suspension action and the unique attributes that you can only get using a system like the Pinion gear box. Nothing feels quite the same when you go back to a regular rear mech and transmission.

For a rider who thinks outside the box, looking for a hugely capable bike that blends rugged durability with enhanced downhill performance, the Pinion-equipped Zerode Taniwha wins almost every round.