First time I’ve heard of the frame going on a VFR except for a damaged one mind you
Most bikes will fatigue with age and use. Ally frames have a tendency to work harden also age harden this could have caused the head stock to give up the ghost on yer m8’s bike if his was high mileage and an older bike. The thing is most bikes never get to this age and VFR are well known for doing the miles
Mine has 26k on the clock that’s all so it’s still a pup in VFR terms
About 2 years had to change the head bearings must have been in there since it was built the only way of getting them out was to heat the head stock up with a torch at work this has the side affect of normalizing the ally so should have reversed any hardening