thanks for all your help!! it turns out that the weird ticking sound was my fuel pump crapping out (was obvious when i took the tank off and could hear it ticking away) and lo and behold 2 weeks later it stops working lol, and i did a coolant flush and that seems to have sorted out my dying issue.

part 2: i'm upgrading my exhaust and need some advice if you can help than the thread is http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...t-upgrade-help
Thanks!!!