96 YZF600R engine tick

[chakka77]

My 96 YZF600R has a ticking sound coming from the engine. It's loudest when the bike hits 4000rpm through 4500-5000 and when decelerating using the engine as a brake. It seems to quiet after 5000rpm, but it may just be the engine rev is drowning it out. The bike runs great, and pulls hard. I just don't want this to become a big problem later. It has ~20000 miles. Any ideas what it might be? Solutions?

Thanks

[wizzer]

Firstly i would check for loose valves if they are in check then it could be piston slap

I would say it's the valves though

[chakka77]

Thanks, I'll give it a go.