83 KZ550 LTD oil light

On my new to me 83 KZ550 Shaft drive the oil light comes on for about 3 seconds after you turn the key on and then goes out. Exactly like the Fuel light. Now I'm talking without trying to start. Just Ignition on. Is that normal? Doesn't sound very useful if it is.

Thanks in advance.

Some research is in order. Sounds like your bike has an oil level sensor, not an oil pressure sensor. A number of KZ bikes had that feature. Look for a round sensor on the bottom of your oil pan that attaches with two screws. If you find one that's the oil level sensor.

Good catch. It should have an oil level switch.
My guess is that the warning light should come on for a few seconds when the ignition switch is turned on, but then turn off.

Do you have the owner's manual for the motorcycle? It should explain the functionality of the oil warning light.
The 750-4 service manual explains how to test the oil level switch, but these have an LCD display.
One test is to make sure the oil level is correct, using the oil level gauge.

As Martin and Ed said, the later 550's had oil level sensors. The early 550's had oil pressure sensors.

I changed the oil and filter yesterday and yes right next to the oil drain plug is a round sensor held on with two screws.
I don't have the owners manual but I do have the service manual. I'll see if I can read about it. The bike does have a sight glass so in my mind I'd rather have a pressure light but I guess the engineers felt that their oil pumps and bypass on the filter was reliable enough.

Thank you Ed and all that replied.

I would consider installing an oil pressure switch. not sure how simple this would be. I did a quick comparison of oil pan photos on eebbaayy, and the 550C looks kind of similar. From the cross-reference at partzilla they use the same gasket, so maybe a chain drive oil pan can be used. ??? ... The wiring for an oil pressure switch should be pretty simple.