Odd ticking sound, hard shifting

[KOCONUT]

So I have been riding my "new" 87 FZR1000 around for the last few days and have noticed a strange ticking noise coming from the front of the bike. I dont hear it at idle, nor do I hear it when accelerating or rolling on throttle. I can hear it while going from 5 to 25 mph, which leads me to think that it could be front suspension related? I dont think it would be coming from the engine, since it idles fine and revs freely and sounds great while doing it. It sounds like one of those baseball cards you stuck in your bicycle tire as a kid. Anyone have any idea?
Also, the bike will be hard to shift intermittently. Its never from neutral to 1st, but usually from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th. Usually takes me a couple of hard motions up with my toe before it will actually lock into that gear. I have read on here about sometimes slipping out of gear but have not been able to find anything on difficult gear selection. Thanks for any suggestions/ideas.

[Stig]

does the ticking change pich or speed as the bike increases speed?
if so, it could be a wheel bearing, frayed speedo cable, warped disc pushing the pads slightly (making them rattle in their mounts)

Try wheel off floor and spin it up to see if you can hear it then

Difficult gear selection usually down to chain being too tight. Adjust slack so its right when you've got weight on it and suspension compressed

[KOCONUT]

Thanks for the advice. I will try and jack the front end up and see if I can replicate the noise. Just adjusted the chain before my ride, so I most likely made it too tight, will try and put some slack in it and see if that helps. Thanks again.

[Kevadlilleke]

My bike started doing similar noise when the chain was worn - it was "catching" on the rear sprocket.