(You Tube: comparing SW Motech vv Givi)
Conclusion... they are both good, but the SW is simply a little better (and... more expensive)
But the vid embedded above has a SWM logo in the background which makes its objectivity questionable I guess...
Note... I love SWM which is obvious I think... But that's again, based on my on personal experiences with SWM products for the last 2 decades and 450.000 km... The only two BAD, VERY BAD experiences I had with GIVI where with the Honda original panniers and racks which again, are build by Givi. They came with the bike (all included), but I will never buy Givi even if its the only remaining alternative.
I guess its logic... if an product don't step up to the expectations, you won't buy it again. But again, its again up to personal preferences, isn't it... Its also how you use the bike.
Brian (jolly green giant) uses and maintains his bike different than I do, and uses his wonderful bike in a different climate. So my expectations and prevalences are different than Brians which makes different views almost obligatory. Which is fine!
I live in the Netherlands where they love to through tons of salt on winter roads, so the risk of material being affected by corrosion (and so, looking at how materials are protected against corrosion) is another important issue for me on which I base my final choice of buy. Corrosion protection of Givi parts was always far below what is necessary in the climate where I live.
So what I share, are my personal experiences with an certain product. My current SW Motech crashbars have covered 110.000 km (from which the last 10.000 on my current bike) and there are simply no signs of rust or corrosion whatsoever. Not on the bars, not on the nuts, not on the bolts. And... I am not a very good cleaner...
The pannier-rack (Givi - Honda original) of my previous bike (my black 2004 MK2) showed rust after the first season despite the provisional protection with wax and silicone spray!
Best part of forums like these... they provide the best test grounds and collection of owner experiences Word Wide, despite the fact that they are based on personal prevalences and choices!
And that's just fine!