The oiling system does not have a lot of flow or pressure.  The bottom end has bearings and they don't require a lot of oil.  The cam and rockers need oil - and it has to be a good oil with a minimum of 1,000 ppm of ZDDP.  (Like Shell Rotella T).

It is important to keep your idle speed no lower than 1,100 rpm, and do not let the engine idle while leaned over on the sidestand, as it causes the uphill exhaust rocker and cam lobe to get starved for oil.  Do not let the engine idle for extended periods of time.....like somebody starting the bike in the winter to get the battery charged.

One way to see how your oil system is doing is to start the bike up and run it for a half a minute - then remove the front valve inspection cap and look inside and see if things are oily.

I have adapted a temporary pressure gauge in a spare oil filter cover, and just recently plumbed in a temporary fitting into the head cover.  I don't plan on using these permanently - they are there just so I can see what is going on with the stock oil pump gears.....and the overdrive gears I made using DragBikeMike's design.

Thanks for your responses.

Visual inspection, via the valve adjustment ports sounds like a good idea.  I think I'll see what happens when I try removing a cover and peeking inside after the engine is warmed up and running.

A port is just what I'm looking for.  I only want to temporarily check oil pressure, and baseline oil pressure, while running "on the bench".  Are you sure those threaded holes access pressurized points in the system?  If so, where in the system are they located, hydraulically?

One challenge is that I don't have a factory manual yet.  I am working from the Clymers manual only at this point, and it doesn't have a diagram of the oiling system.  I do recall reading through an excellent analysis of the oiling system, probably here on this forum, but I'm having a hard time finding that thread again.

I do have a factory diagram for my Suzuki  GZ250, (which I attached) and from what I've seen, the LS650 engine's architecture looks very similar.  I wonder if you, or any member can confirm that the oiling system has the same general architecture, or note what the lube system differences are from GZ250 to LS650, or perhaps even post the correct diagram?

The GZ250 oil flow diagram you posted is generally the same as the LS650, but the diagram does not show the source of oil for the main bearings.  The main bearings get their lubrication from the camshaft.  The drain oil from the cylinder head provides the lubrication for the left-hand and right-hand main bearings.

This old post provides a very detailed description of the oil system.  I think you will find it useful.  BTW, I don't recommend that you remove the valve covers with the engine running.  It's very messy.  The best way to evaluate your oil pressure is to install a gage.  I personally like the left-hand side of the head cover.  Tapping into that location provides the most meanigful information.  Normal pressure will be about zero at idle and 6 psi at 4000 rpm with oil at normal operating temp (200F).

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1695617698

Good luck.

The stock oiling system is very reliable and I cannot recall anyone having a failure that was not related to improper assembly.  Failure mode is when folks remove the clutch and the drive pin drops out of the gear on the back of the clutch.....and then the pump doesn't work anymore!

The other major failure(s) occurs when folks use oil with too little ZDDP and the cam/rockers wear out - or when folks let the bike idle while on the sidestand, or when the idle speed is set too low.

In 2005 the rocker warms were updated with a brazed on hardened pad, and these are more durable that the previous rockers that were all made from the same material.