Hacking barrels to fit sub-standard pistons? You'll be hacking the cases about and screwing grub screws into the oil feed holes next to use the wrong main bearings after a Heath Robinson crank rebuild!

LOL, not likely, my name is not Andy...

All I can say is each to his own, if we can use alternative pistons, which may or may not actually be better than the ART OEM stuff then why not ?

Yes it is a GP bike but I am not a GP team nor have I got the funds of one. To pay close to $500USD for a set of pistons is a bit steep, next year it'll be $1000? If I have to then I will buy the OEM pistons but for now I am doing my homework if there's not maybe an alternative option.

Don't get me wrong, I am not for cutting barrels but if that is what it's going to cost to keep on riding the bike on a regular basis then so be it. What's the point on having something which you can just look at ?