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Have all three. A 125, a 250f and a 250. Without a doubt the 250f is the easiest bike to ride. Also very forgiving. Your budget maybe tough to get one that’s low hours which is probably what you want.

I went from a 125 straight to a 250 2t. Honestly the transition is not bad as long as you respect the bike and ride within your limits. I took the bike to the trails a few times to get use to the power difference and overall feel for the bike before going to the track. For your price range and since it sounds like you really enjoy a 2 stroke I would say go for the 250 2t.

If your decent at riding your 125 it won't be hard to use newer 250 2strokes, they're easy bikes.

i would say if you if you want a 250t get one and dont worry about the power. itll take a bit more to get used to a 250t vs 250f but out of the 3 the 250F is easiest to ride. its power is closer to a 250T but forgiving and has more power/torque than a 125 that you wouldnt have issues clearing jumps

I own a 125 and 250f, generally I have a lot more fun at the track on the 250f with the extra power.

I had a 250f and a 125, 125 never got ridden, I would go put that 4500 down on a new 250f, but that’s just me

If you're trying to clear triples on a 125 you'll be fine with a 250 2 stroke

Maybe I’m in the minority but I have a 250f and a yz125 and riding the 125 is way more fun to me. It definitely take a bit more effort and you have to ride it hard, but it's more rewarding when you get it right and it feels like a mountain bike with a motor

I'd just go to the 250F if I were you. I mean, me.... I'd have all 3 because I like dirt bikes and riding them, but a 250 2S can be a pretty snappy beast and a 250F is a tractable, friendly, fun animal. We rode a Husqvarna ride day and I had my son (coming off a KTM 150 SX, so no stranger to "snap") ride the 250F and 250. He really liked the F and ended getting an '18 KTM 250 SX-F a few months later (keeping the 150 SX for off-road use). He said the TC 250...