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.　©　2018,　©　2018　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.