That really depends on what you want the bike for. For downhill / all-mountain, a full suspension bike is preferable. For cross country a hardtail can still be competitive, particularly for shorter trails. Oil/air shocks have great adjustability, but short mainteance spans. Oil/spring are more rugged, but tuning them require replacing the spring. Elastomer shocks have pretty much died out.
yeti
Marzocchi bomber forks are used as a dirt jump shock but i ride DH on my dirt jump bike with those shock and can manage.
santa cruz
Yes you should, and yes it does matter. If you don't keep them clean you'll shorten the life of the seals, which can let dirt into the shocks, which can damage them.
http://www.houstonbiketrails.com is a good website to find mountain bike trails and bike paths in the South Houston and surrounding areas.
Pacific Northwest. Tons of epic mountain bike trails, also California has many great trails.
There are a few good mountain bikes tires that would suit a 18 speed bike. I would go to a bike store and ask.there's different tires for what type of riding you doing but everyone have their own way they like their bikes from handle bars to tires. There's no best part. It's just what's good for you
Elka shocks are the best shocks.
Matter of opinion. Norco seems to be pretty well.
Mountain Bike Rally happened in 1994.
A road bike is faster on the road than a mountain bike. That's all