Posts
149
Joined
4/11/2012
Location
Portland, OR
US
Edited Date/Time
5/12/2016 11:49am
I wanted to throw this out here and show you guys something I've been working on recently. It's an app called - The Parts Ninja.
In short, it's a parts compatibility algorithm that uses existing data and user contributions to create a "web" of compatible parts.
This is an idea I've had since I owned my TM. Ordering parts wasn't terribly difficult but getting them quickly and at a reasonable price was a totally different issue. I started realizing that many of the parts were sourced from other makes/models but were then rebranded. To get them quickly (ie right before a race) I would do my best Google-fu and hope to stumble across a random forum post saying that a certain part (clutch plates for instance) would fit from another model. Then at that point I would hope that my local shop had that part in stock. As is happening more frequently, they wouldn't. I usually knew of a few other compatible parts and with some luck, they would have one of those. Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly all the potential parts that could fit?
Anyone who's tried searching "does this fit my [...]?" knows how much of a pain it can be. My goal with this is to answer that question simply. For instance...
-Searching for 2006 Yamaha YZ250 Front Wheel will show you every make/model that fits and/or can be made to fit.
-Searching for 2011 TM Racing 250MX Clutch Plates will show you that ~07 CR250 clutch plates will fit.
-Or that a broken 2008 GasGas TXTPro 300 Radiator Fan can be fixed with a cheap computer fan motor.
I've got quite a few future plans for this app (marketplace for one) but I'm really excited at where it's at now. So please check it out and let me know what you think so far. It's currently in an alpha stage but I wanted to get some of your feedback in the meantime and if you're really awesome, signup to the email list!
www.theparts.ninja or www.thepartsninja.com
In short, it's a parts compatibility algorithm that uses existing data and user contributions to create a "web" of compatible parts.
This is an idea I've had since I owned my TM. Ordering parts wasn't terribly difficult but getting them quickly and at a reasonable price was a totally different issue. I started realizing that many of the parts were sourced from other makes/models but were then rebranded. To get them quickly (ie right before a race) I would do my best Google-fu and hope to stumble across a random forum post saying that a certain part (clutch plates for instance) would fit from another model. Then at that point I would hope that my local shop had that part in stock. As is happening more frequently, they wouldn't. I usually knew of a few other compatible parts and with some luck, they would have one of those. Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly all the potential parts that could fit?
Anyone who's tried searching "does this fit my [...]?" knows how much of a pain it can be. My goal with this is to answer that question simply. For instance...
-Searching for 2006 Yamaha YZ250 Front Wheel will show you every make/model that fits and/or can be made to fit.
-Searching for 2011 TM Racing 250MX Clutch Plates will show you that ~07 CR250 clutch plates will fit.
-Or that a broken 2008 GasGas TXTPro 300 Radiator Fan can be fixed with a cheap computer fan motor.
I've got quite a few future plans for this app (marketplace for one) but I'm really excited at where it's at now. So please check it out and let me know what you think so far. It's currently in an alpha stage but I wanted to get some of your feedback in the meantime and if you're really awesome, signup to the email list!
www.theparts.ninja or www.thepartsninja.com
but seriously sounds like an awesome idea. how are you going about verifying the data? can I trust my parts ninja if it says a part interchanges?
from experience I don't think it will help anything in stock locally as these dang dealerships seem to stock very little for dirt bikes but it would come in handy when searching for the best price on line....
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
About the verification... Most of it will be verified through the sources that I'm pulling the information from. This is essentially the first level and that is available from the manufacturers. From there though, it's based on user curated content (StackOverflow-esque) and the searching algorithm. There are variables within the algorithm that will prevent any sort of compatibilities showing up if they don't match, i.e. a wheel and clutch plates are not compatible.
Here's an example... I create a "Discovery" that 2011 TM 250MX clutch plates can be replaced with 2007 CR250 clutch plates. At this point, other users can vote up and down on if it's legit (which it is). The algorithm then in part, uses this score to choose if it's a compatibility. It also factors in other compatibilities that share common ancestries (such as another TM model and CR model). There are also other variables that come into play when the content exists to make it happen.
One of the big things I have planned is a marketplace. With the way this is setup, all you'll have to do is say exactly what part you have - 2006 Yamaha YZ250 Front Wheel. Then anytime someone searches for a part within that "web", they'll be shown your listing. You have full listing exposure both as as buyer and seller.
I appreciate the words guys! It's been a super fun project so far. I can't wait to get a few more things wrapped up and let everyone experience it.
I used to have a mx internet company. I had to build my dataa base by myself. So I had to make sure all the parts accesory, etc were entered because the more product you have to choose from the more you sell. If I didnt have a certain product, then people will go elswhere, and probably stay with that company.
Having said that, most companies will provide you a disc of all of theire products that you can roll into your data base. For instance, Tucker R., Parts Unliimited
I post these from my phone so please forgive the errors.
I would think that aftermarket parts referencing would help a lot in Parts Ninja since the parts usually retain the same part number across brands.
Parts Unlimited 's catalogs can easily be transferred over and will show where certain part numbers can be used for multiple brands.
Post a reply to: The Parts Ninja - a parts app I've been developing