Is there much difference between an 87 and an 88 FXR?

 

The biggest difference between the two model years is the upgrade to 39mm forks on all 1988 models. In '87, all of the FXRs had 35mm forks, with the exception of the FXLR and the FXRS-SP (which had the 39mm forks).

 

Ok thanks. I ask because I screwed up and bought a factory service manual off ebay and it had the same cover as the one for an 88 (my bike). The one I bought is for an 87. I hope it will be close enough

 

Unless you own one of those '88 FXRS-SP models, with air/oil front suspension (air reservoir in the sealed handlebars with the schrader valve on the left bar end), it shouldn't matter. I can't remember if the '87 SPs had the air/oil front end.