The Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rowing Machine is a rock-solid fitness aid that offers the features most people look for in a rower at a reasonable price.
It has a range of preset programs, a backlit LED for viewing your workout metrics, and adjustable resistance.
Two separate handles rotate outwards in a circular motion, stimulating rowing on water.
However, unlike actual rowing, your workout intensity will remain constant after selecting your resistance level.
The machine’s design provides a slightly more challenging leg push phase and a faster recovery motion.
It is more compact than many similar fitness aids, and it folds to store. Its seat is more comfortable, and its warranty is more extended than many rowers in its price bracket.
Keep reading this Fitness Reality 4000MR review if you’d like to know more.
Table of Contents
Who does it suit?
The Fitness Reality 4000MR Rower suits people of most heights, weights, and fitness levels who want to experience the benefits of rowing machine workouts.
Its seat is high enough to enable easy access for people with mobility issues.
The upper resistance levels should accommodate all but very experienced athletes.
Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rowing Machine Specs
Assembled dimensions – Assembled, the Fitness Reality 4000MR measures 72″ (L) x 25″ (W) x 51″ (H)
Folded dimensions – Folded, it measures 45” (L) x 25” (W) x 59” (H)
Seat dimensions – The seat measures 13.5″ (L) L x 10″ (W)
Seat to floor distance (front and back of rail) – The distance from the seat to the floor is between 21″ and 22.5″
Rail length – The rail is 38″ long
Inseam – The inseam is 41″
Weight – The machine weighs 116.4 lbs
User weight – The user weight limit for this model is 300 pounds
User height – This model is recommended for users from 5″ to 6′ 5″ tall
Color – It is black with light gray details
Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rowing Machine Overview
Drive –
The Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rowing Machine operates through a dual chain drive requiring a power source.
It has a small internal servo motor and a magnetic brake.
Build & Finish –
The rower’s sturdy steel frame, stabilizer bars, three sets of wheels, footrest base, console arm, and oars’ painted finish resists scratches, chips, and corrosion.
The rail is aluminum, while safety covers, including the drive and resistance systems’ are ABS.
Stability, Smoothness, and Noise level –
The rower’s heft, wider than average slide rail, and dual chain drive system provide excellent stability. Two front and two rear adjustable stabilizers in the base add further to this. These are rubberized to prevent marking your floor.
The seat moves smoothly along the sliding rail, making for fluid workouts.
The rower’s wheels industrial-grade sealed ball bearings ensure the seat moves smoothly. Their outer rubberized coating makes for quiet sessions that are virtually vibration-free.
The machine’s magnetic resistance system provides an incredibly quiet rowing motion. The seat’s rubber-coated rollers also help keep noise to a minimum.
Resistance –
This Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine has 14 levels of dual transmission resistance.
The lower resistance levels are suitable for beginners, Warm-Ups, and Cool-Downs. The highest levels provide enough of a challenge for most people.
Adjustments automatically occur when using the preset programs or can be manually implemented through the console.
Unlike water and air rowers that respond to the user’s effort, the required effort will be consistent with this model once you select a resistance level.
In other words, pulling harder on the oars will not increase the challenge of your session.
Programs –
The Fitness Reality 4000MR offers 10 preset programs, 3 Goal setting programs, and 5 user profiles.
The presets address different fitness aspects,
The focus of the Goal Setting workouts is Time, Distance, Calories Burned, and Heart Rate. The monitor will show a countdown of your progress and alert you when you achieve your goal.
Monitor –
An adjustable angle 5″ backlit LCD displays useful workout metrics, enabling you to track your progress and set fitness goals. 
Stats shown include Time, Distance, Stroke Count, RPM, Watts, and Calories Burned. Distance is shown in MPH.
The screen is divided into subsections, enabling you to view multiple metrics simultaneously for a comprehensive overview.
The console is user-friendly, with six sizeable intuitive navigation buttons, including Start, Stop, and Enter.
Press the Start key to begin your session and the Stop key to finish or pause it. The Enter key is used to select a program or workout goal.
There’s also an Up and Down arrow button. Press these to scroll through the programs, increase or decrease workout parameters such as your Resistance level, session Time, etc.
Seat –
Buyer consensus is that the rower’s wide, contoured seat is comfortable, even during extended sessions.
Its rear and side perimeters have a slight upward slope to prevent you from sliding during workouts.
Footrests –
The large, fixed-position footrests of the Fitness Reality 4000MR are set at a 65° angle, offering excellent support during workouts.
Featuring a heel guard and adjustable straps, they will hold your feet securely n place, whatever your shoe size.
Handlebars –
The slip-resistant rubber-coated, multi-grip handlebars have a slight inward curve for a comfortable, organic feel.
Their lower joints rotate outwards to give you the feeling of rowing on water.
Transport wheels –
Transport wheels in the front facilitate moving the unit after folding it if required.
Folding and unfolding –
The rail folds up for more compact storage. 
The rail folds up for more compact storage.
The folding motion involves removing a safety pin, lifting the rail, and reinserting the pin to lock it. To unfold it, remove the pin, lower the fail, then reinsert the pin.
Accessories –
A small ledge located above the console can hold a phone, tablet, or another device you want to access during workouts.
Assembly –
The Fitness Reality 4000MR Rower comes partially assembled.
Completing the job takes most people between 1 and 2 hours, though it took considerably less time for some buyers. Having a second person help will shorten the time.
You will need to attach the sliding rail, seat, stabilizers, handlebars, console, and several small covers. Clear instructions for this and the required tools will be in the box.
Warranty –
The warranty for this model covers 5 years for the frame, 3 years for parts, and 2 years for electronics.
The next section of this Fitness reality 4000MR review looks at its pros, followed by its cons.
Fitness Reality 4000MR Rower Infomercial
Pros
- The Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine offers stable, fluid, and quiet workouts
- It offers great value for money
- The rower suits people of most heights and weights
- It provides low-impact, total-body toning cardio workouts
- A range of preset programs, user profiles, and goal setting functions cater to different fitness aspects and allow you to create your own workouts
- 14 resistance levels provide room for growth and accommodate people of most fitness levels
- An adjustable-angle LED-backlit LCD screen shows useful workout metrics
- The handlebars move independently, simulating outdoor boat rowing
- Large footrests have adjustable heel grips and safety straps for optimal foot stability
- Integrated transport wheels provide easy relocation when needed
- The assembly instructions are easy to follow
- A folding design allows more compact storage
- Transport wheels enable easy relocation if need be
- It comes with a decent warranty
Cons
- There’s no pulse reading function
- It is not telemetric nor app-compatible.
Summary
The Fitness Reality 4000MR Rower Rowing Machine is a great all-rounder.
Its standout features include its independent oars, which provide an authentic feel and a seat that most users cite as very comfortable.
The rower is reasonably priced, and it offers 10 built-in and 5 customer programs and 3 goal-setting functions. Its 14 levels of automatic resistance accommodate all but very experienced rowers and allow you to diversify your workouts.
If you don’t need a model with built in programs and you want to save some money, take a look at the Dripex Magnetic Rower. The rower suits people weighing up to 265 pounds between 4′ 11″ to 6″ 3″, and like the the Fitness Reality 4000MR, it folds to store.
Click here to read reviews of other popular rowers.
