Zebedee wrote: - You can discuss situations in-car as they happen.
Mixed blessing, that one.
Do you mean 'as you plan and implement that plan'? If so, then it changes from observation to training/coaching. OK, not a Bad Thing - but as a trainee you can't be expected to listem to an instructor and respond (ie implement) comments while maintaining the same impetus as you could otherwise.
If you mean retrospective, discussing what you've just done, then that, again, is potentially taking your concentration away from the drive.
However, combining the two does mean that the instructor can 'instantly' implement ideas based on what you've just done - but it needs to be clear (to the trainee especiallly) that the dynamic has changed from 'observe' to 'instruct'.
Using bike2bike radios an instructor can do something similar, but I find that anything which requires in-depth discussion must be done at a convenient stop rather than causing a distraction on the move.
Zebedee wrote: - Advanced driving teaches you to do a decent 'commentary', which is really valuable for heightening your roadcraft.
- When you learn advanced riding, the instructor can't see everything 100%. They don't have the same view as you. Therefore, you miss some chances to learn. Whereas in the car, the instructor is sat right next to you and gets almost the same view of every situation.
You might be surprised! Remember that a car instructor is in a fixed position relative to the driver - whereas a bike instructor has freedom to move about. I'll give a commentary based on what a trainee
should be able to see
For example, I could be looking further ahead - or I could be moving about more on the lane width.
In fact, one of the ways I assess trainees is by whether they're in the bit of road width I want to use; if I have to move off-line then their positioning can't be too bad
Zebedee wrote: - Advanced car instructors don't have to split their concentration between driving and observing. Whereas bike instructors do.
Fair point, but see the answer above. Similarly, if my concentration is getting more biased towards 'riding' than onto the trainee, they're probably doing well! [I'll happily tell people when I think they're riding better than me
]
Zebedee wrote: - My gear changing on the bike improved from advanced car training. This is because the instructor in the car can feel the gear change and I learnt even more smoothness, which applied on the bike too.
Again, you may be underestimating how much a bike instructor can tell by, for example, how the trainee's bike moves relative to their own. If I'm moving at constant speed, it's fairly obvious when the trainee opens or closes the throttle, or changes gear without rev matching. Same for maintaining the dirve through bends. Also, bikes will noticeably move back/forwards during poor gear changes.
Sometimes it's as important - actually, even more so - to look for the cause rather than the symptom; 'why?' is the rider doing poor gear changes? Are they rushed, poor posture, incorrect control set-up, etc.?