I guess I hadn't read this as closely as I wanted--I don't think 4 people on a motorcycle is a good idea under most any condition. I could see myself and 3 buddies sitting around on one of the 3 guys' property with lots and lots of land, and getting all four of us on a bike and riding for a few hundred feet in circles. Yes, we would be drunk, and yes, extremely STUPID, but I know we wouldn't be off on the open road. For sure, I wouldn't put my wife and kids on a bike, at least AT THE SAME TIME. The ONLY bike that I would even consider for a family would be a sidecar model. This would allow you to ride in snow, too, at least much better than on two wheels!