Cable training is developing into an important part of home gym setups, and the Riot MRR system offers two very different ways to add it. One is the Riot Functional Trainer, a full six-point cable station. The other is the Rear-Mounted Lat Pulldown and Low Row, a compact attachment that bolts onto the back of a Riot MRR rack. Both deliver smooth cable resistance, but they answer different questions. This comparison looks at what each one does well and, more importantly, who each one is built for.
At a glance
- Riot Functional Trainer: a full six-point cable station, standalone or rack-integrated, with the widest exercise range. Built for studios and high-end home gyms.
- Rear-Mounted Lat Pulldown and Low Row: a compact attachment for an existing Riot MRR rack, focused on pulldowns and rows at a lower price.
- The deciding question: do you already own a Riot MRR rack, and do you want a full cable station or focused pull work?
Two cable machines, two jobs
The Functional Trainer is a standalone or rack-integrated station with six independent cable pull points. The Rear-Mounted unit is a focused add-on for vertical pulling and rowing. It is worth being clear from the start that these are not interchangeable. The Functional Trainer can stand on its own, while the rear-mounted unit needs an existing Riot MRR rack to work at all. That single fact already points most buyers toward one option or the other.
Riot Functional Trainer: the full station
The Functional Trainer carries six independent pull points, two height-adjustable trolleys, two dedicated lat pulldown stations and two low row stations. Every pulley rotates a full 360 degrees, so the cables follow natural movement in any plane. A 2:1 pulley ratio gives longer cable travel, a smoother resistance curve and lower inertia, which suits controlled hypertrophy work and athletic, movement-based training.
Resistance comes from two independent 120 kg weight stacks (upgradable to 150 kg) in 5 kg increments, so two people can load very different weights at once. The weight stack sits offset inside the frame, which frees space so a bench rolls into position and barbell work such as squats stays possible inside the rack. The frame is steel with 75 x 75 x 3 mm uprights, running on aluminium pulleys and stainless steel guide rails with cast iron stacks. It works as a standalone unit (wall-backed, freestanding or wall-mounted) or integrated into a 2100 or 2300 Riot MRR rack.
Who the Functional Trainer is for
This is the option for commercial gyms, strength and performance facilities, functional fitness boxes, PT studios and high-end home gyms where cable training becomes a main centerpiece of your training setup. The multiple stations let more than one person train at the same time, which matters on a busy floor. The exercise range covers cable crossovers, chest flyes, triceps pushdowns, face pulls, rotational core work and lower body cable drills, on top of the pull and row stations. If you want one machine to carry a wide functional training program, or you need throughput, this is the cable machine to build a home gym or studio around.
Rear-Mounted Lat Pulldown and Low Row: the focused add-on
The Rear-Mounted unit is an attachment for Riot MRR 2100 and 2300 racks. It mounts to the rear, adds only 34 mm to rack height and extends roughly 750 mm behind the rack, so it barely changes the footprint. A 1:1 ratio means the load you set is the load you feel, which gives direct, predictable progression and a conventional pulldown and row feel. You can run it plate-loaded or as a stack-plus-plate combo with a 75 kg stack, rated up to 200 kg including plate loading. An integrated footplate steadies your low rows and a built-in cable holder keeps things tidy between sessions. Construction matches the rack at 75 x 75 x 3 mm steel.
This is not a universal lat pulldown. The rack has to carry a 1075 crossmember with centred mounting holes plus the included offset crossmember, so it only makes sense if you already run, or are planning, a compatible Riot MRR rack.
Who the Rear-Mounted attachment is for
This suits home gyms and facilities already built around a Riot MRR rack that want serious back and pull work without a separate machine or extra floor space. It handles lat pulldowns, close-grip and straight-arm pulldowns, seated cable rows, plus triceps pressdowns and cable curls. If your priority is vertical pulling and rowing, your budget is measured in hundreds rather than thousands, and floor space is tight, the rear-mounted lat pulldown covers the essentials without taking over the room.
How they compare on the things that matter
| What matters | Riot Functional Trainer | Rear-Mounted Lat Pulldown + Low Row |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Standalone or rack-integrated | Attaches to an existing Riot MRR rack (2100/2300) |
| Cable ratio | 2:1, longer travel, lower inertia | 1:1, direct and predictable load |
| Loading | Two 120 kg stacks (opt. 150 kg), 5 kg steps | Plate-loaded or 75 kg stack combo, up to 200 kg |
| Stations | 6 pull points, dual lat and dual low row | Lat pulldown, low row and arm work |
| Footprint | Full station 2140 x 1530 x 555 mm | Adds 34 mm height, about 750 mm rear depth |
| Simultaneous use | Several people at once | Single station |
| Best for | Studios, performance facilities, high-end home gyms | MRR rack owners wanting compact pull and row |
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Functional Trainer if you run a commercial floor or performance facility, want the widest cable exercise range, need more than one person training at once, or are building a high-end home gym where cable training is central and you have the space and budget for a full station.
Choose the Rear-Mounted Lat Pulldown and Low Row if you already train on a Riot MRR rack, want to add strong pulldown and row work in a compact footprint, and want to keep the spend modest.
Both share the build standard of the Riot MRR range and accept the same handle attachments, so you can match grips and handles to your training either way. Handles are not included with either unit.
FAQ
Can you wall-mount a functional trainer?
Yes. The Riot Functional Trainer can be wall-mounted, set up freestanding with the Riot MRR long feet, or integrated into a compatible Riot MRR rack. The Rear-Mounted Lat Pulldown and Low Row is the exception: it is not a wall-mounted unit and attaches only to a Riot MRR rack.
Do you need a squat rack for the rear-mounted lat pulldown?
Yes. The rear-mounted lat pulldown attachment is built for Riot MRR 2100 and 2300 racks only, and the rack needs a 1075 crossmember with centred mounting holes plus the included offset crossmember. The Functional Trainer, by contrast, can stand on its own without a rack.
What is the difference between a 2:1 and 1:1 cable pulley ratio?
A 2:1 ratio, used on the Functional Trainer, gives longer cable travel, a smoother resistance curve and lower inertia, which suits controlled and athletic cable work. A 1:1 ratio, used on the rear-mounted unit, means the load you set is the load you feel, for direct and predictable progression on heavy pulls and rows.
Is a functional trainer a good cable machine for a home gym?
For a home gym, a functional trainer works well when cable training is central and you have the floor space and budget for a full station. If you already own a Riot MRR rack and mainly want pulldowns and rows, the compact rear-mounted attachment covers the essentials for a smaller outlay.
Are handles included with these cable machines?
No. Handles are not included with the Functional Trainer or the rear-mounted attachment. Both accept the same Riot MRR handle attachments, so you can match the grips to your own training.