Another engine guard question

Recently picked up a 2006 650 V-Strom with only 2,000 miles on it and am in the process of fitting it out.

So here goes. I know that this topic has been beat to death, but I am looking to put crash bars and skid plate on her, and after reading all the posts on this topic, I am more confused than ever. So I am looking for some help on deciding on what to purchase.

I will list my choices along with the pro’s and con’s of each brand that I came up with.

Givi: High coverage on the tank, bars are far away from the tank to allow for bending before coming in contact with tank, not braced very well and may be weakest of the lot, cross bar in front of cylinder far away, lots of skid plates fit them, inexpensive.

Hepco- Becker: Large tubes, solid construction, seems to protect the tank well with a moderately tall bars. Yannis who makes these skid plates,
http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,11937.0.html does not like how close the cross bar is to the cylinder, his concern is in the event of a crash they could do damage to the engine, few skid plates match up. Plan on getting his skid plate.

SW-Motech: Not alot of protection due to hugging the engine and not very tall, front cross bar close to cylinder, not alot of choices for skid plates.

Pat Walsh: They are not making or selling them anymore

Happy Trails: They have not been mentioned by anyone, so here is a link to their site,
http://www.happy-trail.com/Suzuki-Vstrom/Nerf-Bar-V-Strom-650.aspx They are very tall and looks like they would provide alot of protection, ugly and only 25.5 mm tubes, crossbar far away from front cylinder and gas tank, alot of skid plates match up.

Altrider: Looks strong and well braced, cross bar close to cylinder, not alot of tank protection, expensive, limited skid plate choices.

So thats it, look forward to your thoughts.

The Givi's are tuning forks. They vibrate. I have found you can tune them some by loosening them, slightly move them and retighten them etc. This can help, and put a peice of rubber hose wedged into the hole in the fairling,a nd wedge it in between the guard and the fairling.
I have a Devlin skid plate, made in Portugal. I really like it, smaller and lighter than the others, but rugged. Tis isn't my dirt bike, (I have a DRZ400) but it gets bashed anyway, and has stood up well.

Thanks oldmanb777,
If I get the Givi I will do your trick.

I can't add anything, just will echo your research and admit I've come away equally confused about what to get for mine. I've decided against the Givi for the resonance issues most have had with them. I'm leaning toward the SW-Motech as they seem to be the most popular and are just expensive compared to wildly expensive for some of the other choices. Hopefully you'll get some good tech in this thread that will benefit us both.

I have the SW-Motech crash bars and skid plate. I like them both. I had no installation issues and no other issues with either. I think the new version of the crash bars come up as high as the others.