Hi this is my first post and looking for opinions before I waste more more money,bought a (I think) 1996 model rm 125 as a non runner,was told it lost compression,removed the cylinder head and barrel.

There was play between the piston and barrel,when I took the barrel off and the piston was quite marked and the rings were not right.

I have showed to bike shops the barrel and one said the damage at the top of the barrel with give issue's and mentiond honing (nickasail?)but still reckoned the damage would be a problem.

The other said use very fine wet and dry paper to remove signs of aluminum from the piston and aslong as the piston/ring clearances are fine the damage should be no issue as it's above the ring line.

I know the right thing to do is replate or resleeve but the bike would owe me too much.

It would only be used as a sort of field bike so no hard racing.