(August 30, 2011) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been seen in a variety of places recently, many times sans his shirt. Apparently the image he seeks to portray is that of a macho man perhaps to draw support over a possible presidential run.

The latest images of the Russian leader is riding with a gang of bikers on a three-wheel Harley Davidson through the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk as part of the bikers annual festival on Monday. Clad in black, the former president appeared at ease amongst the bikers.

His appearance at the festival in Novorossiysk, which helps to commemorate the city's resistance to German invaders during the Second World War, came as current Russian president Dmitriy Medvedev called parliamentary elections in the country for December. The vote will precede a Presidential poll in March 2012.

The motorcycle festival is the latest in a series of appearances that have earned Putin the nickname "alpha-dog" in US diplomatic cables. Only last week he was filmed stripping to the waist for a medical check-up on a shoulder he reportedly injured whilst working out.

As of late, he's been seen scuba-diving, fishing and playing hockey — and has been known to ride horseback, fly fighter jets and hunt Siberian tigers.

Watch Putin with the motorcycle gang.