If your talking about the 550, check crank center-line, it's way above axle line but bike is sitting pretty much level.
Shocks are not too much longer than stock
You should probably cut out an oval section in the plate and weld a bulge in for clearance
StuartNI's silver 550 is running 14 and 1/4 inch rear shocks, same as my new ones give or take
Cutting out a bit of my rear electrics tray and putting in a bulge would defeat the purpse .. ie wouldn't leave enough clearnce between the seat base and the plate for the electrics. Racing boys appear to get round the reduced trail issue arising from using 14 inch shocks and 18 inch front wheel by using a damper and a triple T and top yolk with shorter offset . Two pics of my bike with new longer Hagons attached. Still to calculate impact on rake & trail ... tomorrows job. 3rd pic shows the StuartNI's silver 550's rear end in close up
Do you know the name of stuards shocks?