Brian,


If the engine peaks at 14K and you run it at 12K, the engine is only making only ~63% of peak horsepower on the given prop.

It is likely running at a four-cycle at this setting.
The alternate firing strokes when a two-stroke engine is four-cycling is significantly more powerful than the consecutive firing strokes when it is two-cycling.

I prefer to have the engine running a bit hotter and closer to peak (500-800 RPM less).

If the engine is in a consistent two-cycle at P-2,000 RPM, than it is good enough also.