Found a video that was helpful. was able to get the caliper moved and wheel out - deflated the tire for a little more clearance.
First push the caliper pistons in to gain clearance on the rotor...
Loosen pitch bolt on RH swing arm...
Loosen stopper bolt, retract till it contacts the silencer...
Retract axle till you can swivel carrier plate upward...
remove both spacers: the one from the wheel
and the one sticking in the swing-arm...
retract axle further till it clears wheel bearings and drive spline...
Swivel carrier plate upward/caliper off rotor and "park" all inside the wheel (carrier plate flush on the rotor)...
With that clearance move wheel right/splines right/out the ring-gear...
(it might help to either wedge something under the wheel, or jack the front up so the rear tire gentle contacts the platform/floor...)
Once free, tilt wheel top to the left to get carrier plate/caliper out (there is a recess in the RH pannier giving clearance for that)
Roll the wheel out, put it aside and push the axle back in so you can "park" the carrier plate on it so the thing won't dangle on the brake lines...
Mind that I have "reversed" the rear axle position, its pushed in through the f/drive with the nut on the RH/silencer side now...
no need to remove or loosen the muffler anymore... not having to fumble with that saves me at least 45 minutes...
(if not one of the heat-shield bolts has corroded shut/snaps/rounds out/has to be drilled and re-tapped, etc...)
Useful for pushing caliper pistons back:

It just spreads the pads apart, without and forces applied to the rotor, eliminating risk of damage...