The　Bouc-Wen　(BW)　model　is　a　successful　differential　equations　model　used　to　describe　a　wide　range　of　nonlinear　hysteretic　systems.　However,　it　is　unable　to　describe　force　degradation,　stiffness　degradation　and　pinching　effects.　Therefore,　Baber　and　Noori　proposed　a　generalisation,　developing　the　Bouc-Wen-Baber-Noori　(BWBN)　model.　Nevertheless,　it　is　composed　of　many　parameters　and　complex　pinching　and　degrading　functions.　Thus,　it　is　necessary　to　develop　a　simpler　and　reliable　model　to　be　used　for　practical　applications.　In　this　paper,　a　modified　BW　model　is　proposed.　It　involves　a　more　direct　physical　meaning　of　each　parameter　and　allows　achieving　a　substantial　reduction　of　computational　effort　and　numerical　deficiencies.　This　is　obtained　through　simpler　pinching　and　degrading　functions　that　entail　a　decrease　of　the　number　of　parameters.　The　result　is　a　straightforward　model,　capable　of　predicting　the　behaviour　of　degrading　and　pinched　hysteretic　systems.　An　application　of　the　proposed　scheme　to　a　real　case　is　also　presented,　in　which　reinforced　concrete　bridge　piers　that　were　physically　tested　in　the　laboratory　are　considered.　The　force-displacement　data　are　used　to　perform　the　identification　process　of　the　model　parameters　via　a　Genetic　Algorithm.　The　numerical　results　are　accurate　since　they　coincide　with　the　experimental　ones.