Kevin, just a guess as to the oil consumption on your friend's R1200RT.
When he parks his bike, does he always use the center stand? 'Cause, as maybe you know, if one primarily uses their side stand on a Boxer-engined motorcycle, oil is prone to seep past the piston rings and into the combustion chamber on the left-side cylinder while the bike is stationary and not running and leaned over in that direction for any length of time.
Btw, I know I've stated the following before around here, but when Thanassis let me ride his older '96 R1100RT around Europe a few years ago, I didn't have a single problem with his bike at all during that 5,000 mile ride. It didn't use a drop of oil at all, and the more I rode that baby the more I was impressed with it.
