i have one and i love it.

i'm gonna stick semi-slicks on it though, i ride a lot of road... and getting into the urban/dj scene, with yes, a rockhopper.

fork is really good for the price, it feels stiff and precise. brake rotors pulsate a bit sometimes but it's just because of the rotor design, as al mentioned earlier.

it's really a great deal... mine weighs in at about 29 pounds with heavy platforms - other than a shifter+derailleur swap to sram, everything's stock. and oh yeah, a bashguard instead of a third chainring.

bb5's are one of the best mechanical brakes out there, pretty much only outdone by the bb7, but that's only better in terms of adjustment and little minor extra features.

go for it - 500 is a great deal for something that's only been ridden for 3 months. i paid over 1200 cdn for mine last july.